DeFuniak Palm

[NC-Key-Bar]

5 hours ago, tarnado said:

How wet and cold (above freezing) has it been for yall leading up to the freeze?

Fairly cold. I had 2 small palmettos that did not show damage in January 2025 but did in December. The ‘DeFuniak’ was unphased. I believe the parent plant has been in ground in Raleigh, NC since like 2007? zone7/8. 
https://www.plantdelights.com/products/sabal-defuniak

 

[tarnado]

Oh wow, repeated dips below freezing every night, into the teens! 

 

It looks like not a lot of moisture, though. I was just trying to compare to our climate in the PNW, where it is wet with a capital W!

Thanks so much for the intel.

[Las Palmas Norte]

I was given a defuniak seedling (1 gal.) last year by a fellow enthusiast. It has grown albeit slowly.

 

[ShadyDan]

20 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

I was given a defuniak seedling (1 gal.) last year by a fellow enthusiast. It has grown albeit slowly.

 

Is that one of mine? I can't even keep track of what I have parted with. I am considering putting one of mine in the ground this spring to see how they do in the PNW. I have a feeling they will do just fine, but grow slowwwwwlllllyyyyyy.

[Chester B]

3 hours ago, ShadyDan said:

Is that one of mine? I can't even keep track of what I have parted with. I am considering putting one of mine in the ground this spring to see how they do in the PNW. I have a feeling they will do just fine, but grow slowwwwwlllllyyyyyy.

It definitely matches the look of ones that I grew from seed.  However I find them to be one of the fastest growing Sabals, mine are about the same size as the photo in under a year from germination.  

[Las Palmas Norte]

6 hours ago, ShadyDan said:

Is that one of mine? I can't even keep track of what I have parted with. I am considering putting one of mine in the ground this spring to see how they do in the PNW. I have a feeling they will do just fine, but grow slowwwwwlllllyyyyyy.

In all likelihood, yes.  Having this unproven variant survive in our PNW climate seems somewhat questionable. Like anything else, we'll never know without trying.

As a side note, the B. yatay I got from you, inexplicably tanked without any reason. A steady decline over the course of a month or so.

[KPoff]

On 1/9/2026 at 7:11 PM, Las Palmas Norte said:

In all likelihood, yes.  Having this unproven variant survive in our PNW climate seems somewhat questionable. Like anything else, we'll never know without trying.

As a side note, the B. yatay I got from you, inexplicably tanked without any reason. A steady decline over the course of a month or so.

I put one of these in the ground in the spring  of 2025 in west Texas so we will see how it does here. It’s only going to get 4-6 hours of sun winter-summer so will probably slow its growth some but we will see.

[Las Palmas Norte]

53 minutes ago, KPoff said:

I put one of these in the ground in the spring  of 2025 in west Texas so we will see how it does here. It’s only going to get 4-6 hours of sun winter-summer so will probably slow its growth some but we will see.

What was the size of the palm when you planted it? Up in the PNW and despite being in zone 8, one of these will have it's challenges. I don't know much about this or it's background, but the gallon sized specimen I have does show signs of growth at lower temps, in comparison to other Sabal I own or have owned. I don't know if this is a good trait or not. Either way, I'm far from planting this out at this point. Good luck with yours!

[KPoff]

36 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

What was the size of the palm when you planted it? Up in the PNW and despite being in zone 8, one of these will have it's challenges. I don't know much about this or it's background, but the gallon sized specimen I have does show signs of growth at lower temps, in comparison to other Sabal I own or have owned. I don't know if this is a good trait or not. Either way, I'm far from planting this out at this point. Good luck with yours!

@Las Palmas Norte it was pretty small, all strap leaves. It’s just now pushing its first palmate frond. I have it planted in a group with a decent sized sabal minor so it’s not lonely hahaha.

[Chester B]

5 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

I don't know much about this or it's background

It's another mystery hybrid palm.  No one knows what it is.

[FL_palms]

Here is my Sabal defuniak seedling that I had dug up under the tree back in 2023, 

has had slow growth but it’s expected since it’s in a more shady spot. First photo is May 2023, second photo is January 2026. I’ve just put it there and been letting it grow on its own, not helping to much and letting it do its own thing. Also I am an hour from Defuniak springs here in Okaloosa county Florida

[Las Palmas Norte]

I'm keeping mine in a 50°F - 58°F environment and it has grown another inch though fall to current. None of the other species I have ATM are showing any signs of growth. Started in 2023.