Appalachian Mountian Palms?

[PalmTreeDude]

Is there a spot in the Appalachian Mountains that is warm enough to grow healthy palms? Does anyone grow palms there or even seen them there? More specifically in the southern states like South Carolina and Georgia. 

[kinzyjr]

Needle Palms grow in Northern and Central Alabama, so probably at least in the foothills of the Appalachians.

[DoomsDave]

@PalmTreeDude, sounds like an interesting experiment.

I suspect that if you could find a sheltered spot, you might be able to coax a trachycarpus wagnerianus to grow there.

[Palmsbro]

18 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

Is there a spot in the Appalachian Mountains that is warm enough to grow healthy palms? Does anyone grow palms there or even seen them there? More specifically in the southern states like South Carolina and Georgia. 

Some counties in GA, SC in the Appalachians are usda hardiness zones 7b and 8a, alongside tiny areas in the NC Appalachians being these zones, so it is most likely to grow hardy palms like Trachycarpus fortunei or Sabal palmetto in these areas, and it would definitely be possible to Rhapidophylum hystrix or Sabal minor in those Appalachain counties. Also, depending on the map, Sabal minor might actually be native to the extreme Southern Appalachains in GA.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

A trachycarpus Takil would live in Chatanooga. TN without issue and probably Knoxville too.

[Brad Mondel]

I used to live outside Asheville when I was a teen (zone 7) I had a large hurricane cut Palmetto brought up to my grandmas house with the help of my dad. The palm thrived for three years with only a sheet overhead during the coldest of nights.  When I moved to Myrtle beach my relatives back home in the mountains informed me it had been cut down by the new owners. 

Edited April 12, 2018 by Brad Mondel

[PalmTreeDude]

16 hours ago, Brad Mondel said:

I used to live outside Asheville when I was a teen (zone 7) I had a large hurricane cut Palmetto brought up to my grandmas house with the help of my dad. The palm thrived for three years with only a sheet overhead during the coldest of nights.  When I moved to Myrtle beach my relatives back home in the mountains informed me it had been cut down by the new owners. 

Why would they do that?!  I would love a Sabal palmetto. 

[Luis Arroyo]

On 4/12/2018 at 6:55 PM, PalmTreeDude said:

Why would they do that?!  I would love a Sabal palmetto. 

You have morons out there who are Environmental extremists when it comes to plants.   They only want natives or assume the cold damaged palm is dead.

[Palmfarmer]

3 hours ago, Luis Arroyo said:

You have morons out there who are Environmental extremists when it comes to plants.   They only want natives or assume the cold damaged palm is dead.

yes the palm racists can be annoying lol. I hate when I hear "Just plant native plants"

Like what's the point of making a garden if everything has to be native

[palmnut-fry]

You can incorporate natives with exotics, it is your yard and up to you. Exotics can and often do do better in certain areas and can become invasive nightmares ( think bamboos, privet and japanese knotweed). But i have yet to read about palms being too aggressive outside of overzealous palmetto seedlings in ranchlands.

I think its too late anyway as mankind has totally interfered with any natural habitats around the world. Like trying to mop up a flood with a couple of mops by now. 

[Palmfarmer]

On 9/27/2024 at 12:51 PM, palmnut-fry said:

You can incorporate natives with exotics, it is your yard and up to you. Exotics can and often do do better in certain areas and can become invasive nightmares ( think bamboos, privet and japanese knotweed). But i have yet to read about palms being too aggressive outside of overzealous palmetto seedlings in ranchlands.

I think its too late anyway as mankind has totally interfered with any natural habitats around the world. Like trying to mop up a flood with a couple of mops by now. 

Definitely. I planted morning glories one year up against a port. Spread everywhere pretty much. Have been able to remove it now though. 

[palmnut-fry]

I have the mexican purple sp. kind ipomea blooms all summer but yeah, tons of seedlings you have to keep pulling. Also let the native one to around here, a dusky mauve color, old timers call bindweed, grow up over a few plants cause it really does but the hummingbirds love em, but ironically it blooms in only a couple weeks and you can just pull it all out and throw away to avoid too many sprouts! I literally just did that tonite!🤪

[NC_Palms]

On 9/23/2024 at 5:20 AM, Palmfarmer said:

yes the palm racists can be annoying lol. I hate when I hear "Just plant native plants"

Like what's the point of making a garden if everything has to be native

Nurseries in Coastal NC will market a species found only in the Southern Appalachians as “Native”, so with that logic, Sabal palmetto is now “native” to Asheville since it’s already native to the state of North Carolina. 

Anywaysss, Sabal palmetto has a better claim to be planted in WNC (climate permitting) than any of those Asian species they sell in masses that often do more harm than good ecologically. 

[palmnut-fry]

Generally, if it is native to a state then it is labeled as native, whether or not it is regionally. Many states share "state plants"  as if there's a shortage of variety!

I can claim Dallas has a native palm, Sabal minor, as it grows near downtown in our Trinity river bottoms there. I even named my biz after it, thinking i wanted to remain small (minor)! But everyone spells it like i dig for coal in a fur🤣

[SeanK]

Probably need some qualification on the original question. Asheville, NC sits about 2200 feet above sea level. What altitude qualifies for "Appalachian"? Greeneville? Seneca? Charlotte? Mt Airy?