I’m looking for suggestions. I get pretty severe cold, dry winds a few times each winter (for 2-3 days at a time) and have lost a really nice Teddy Bear Palm. Also, I have some dypsis lutescens that were pretty ripped up in the last month (though others are fine), and I lost two big purple decorative banana trees.  It can also get pretty hot in the summer and early fall here, but usually not too windy until it gets cold. What are some types of palms that might hold up best to these conditions? The Teddy Bear was perfect for the location, esthetically, but couldn’t handle the winds. 

I have been thinking about bismarckia nobilis, triangle palm, or even a mule palm as these seem pretty hardy. 

Trabuco canyon ... hmmm I always thought south Orange County was prime land for palms . I'm in riverside and I grow some  things that people tell me I won't have any luck. I have learned so much in the last 3 years lost a lot of things I usually don't give up on one species until i've tried it atleast twice. This all depends on we're on your property your planting these things if there is any overhead canopy . If it is out in the open . I was just outside looking at all the palms I have planted out in full sun that are actually getting whipped with wind right now as I type I have 4 jubaeas couple jubaea hybrids parajubaeas, butias , big 10 foot tall dypsis ovobontsira dypsis lepto, caryota gigas caryota urens , jubaeopsis , Copernicia baileyana Couple of mules and a couple of roystoneas , if you want a species to add to your list I would say parajubaea Toralyii . My bismarkia I have had crazy growth probably one of the faster growers in full sun with lots of water next to my Copernicia baileyana and caryotas 

Here is where I had the teddy bear. Right behind the cycad. It seems pretty protected but I think the wind must get funneled right towards the corner of my yard. 

Here is one of the locations where I lost one of the decorative bananas, it was staked after winds last year and lost this year. 

Here is where the other purple banana was, this area gets a ton of direct sun in the summer and the kentia always gets fried... thinking of taking it out or trying to create some shade for it 

Chris,

A few random thoughts.   The decorative bananas are Ensete I assume.   They need protection from wind and don't particularly appreciate the hot summer months.  I have 5 in the ground here in Laguna Hills.  They are temperamental. 

Don't give up on the Kentia.  They take a few years to really get established.   However much you water them, they like more.  Soak their root zone 2 or 3 days before any heat or Santa Ana event.  That should help.

Other palms...

Surprised your Teddy Bear didn't make it.  Bummer.  They should grow where you are.  I am a bit surprised 

Bismarkia is a winner.  But keep them far from your property line.  They get HUGE and sometimes neighbors might try to trim them.

Kentiopsis oliviformis is also a WINNER for this area.  A very underappreciated palm.

Beccariophoenix alfredii is tough as nails too. Great looking palm.  

Pritchardia, Cocothrinax, and Livistona are worth a look too.

Hope that helps.

Edited January 28, 20188 yr by Hammer

Ravenea glauca has been a solid performer for me as well.

16 hours ago, JubaeaMan138 said:

Trabuco canyon ... hmmm I always thought south Orange County was prime land for palms . 

South OC is prime if you’re a bit more coastal. I’m up against the foothills, close to saddleback mountain. It’s not the worst place 

Beccariophoenix alfredii. It's solid for the area.

Well, the winds are back today. In general my stuff holds up fine. Things that aren’t well rooted, though, don’t. I’ve had to stake a Teddy Bear and some St. Lucy’s. And I gave up Ensentes a few years ago after some particularly bad winds. My Travelers palm get a bit shredded but keeps on trucking. 

A good friend lives in Beaumont which is often the origination point of these God forsaken winds. So it's a prime laboratory of what will survive. He gets a bit too cold for Ravenea glauca, but that's probably a great suggestion for you. He's even nursing some B. alfredii along in more protected areas. Again, I'm sure he's got worse weather than you. Mule palms are stellar in his yard. Bizmarks are of course a no brainer.....