Palms in the D.C. Area

[Alex High]

Hello everyone,

I live in the Washington D.C. area and I was wondering if anyone knew of some palms around town and in the surrounding areas. I know of the palms at the National Air and Space Museum and the National Zoo, but do you know of some other locations? I will put pictures of the palms I have seen below. I would love to see some palms that people are growing. Thanks!

 

PalmsUSA

 

Sabal minor in front of Air and Space Museum:

Rhapidophyllum hystrix at Air and Space Museum

Trachycarpus fortunei (and Musa basjoo) in front of Air and Space Museum

Google Maps link: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8875431,-77.0189101,3a,15y,14.06h,94.57t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sLF2o8fLW6NEv8dRg0oCJQg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DLF2o8fLW6NEv8dRg0oCJQg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D340.9899%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

National Zoo R. hystrix and T. fortunei (not my photo)

Google Maps link: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9299621,-77.0484032,3a,48.5y,281.32h,86.59t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipNM5psPBniWh5Jmp-Yrk5v3auinr4-b0TcYV0Ck!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNM5psPBniWh5Jmp-Yrk5v3auinr4-b0TcYV0Ck%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-8.680763-ya34.272717-ro-6.412489-fo100!7i5376!8i2688

and another Trachycarpus fortunei: at the National Zoo (photo from Google Maps). I visited this palm this past weekend and it is much larger now!

Google Maps link: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9294883,-77.0468153,3a,75y,154.57h,91.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAF1QipON47NILl8oRRBRDPBf6ZVZ8QwyRmpbyJER7xhy!2e10!7i5376!8i2688

[knikfar]

There is a very large, and very old, needle palm at the National Arboretum. I believe its in their asian garden section. 

[Alex High]

6 hours ago, knikfar said:

There is a very large, and very old, needle palm at the National Arboretum. I believe its in their asian garden section. 

I have heard about this one, but have never known exactly where it is located. Thank you! I have to check it out!

Edited October 12, 2020 by PalmsUSA

[mdsonofthesouth]

8 hours ago, knikfar said:

There is a very large, and very old, needle palm at the National Arboretum. I believe its in their asian garden section. 

 

Not my photo and I think this was dated in 2002 or 2003 time frame. Could be wrong... I believe it was planted in the 60s if I read correctly.

Edited October 12, 2020 by mdsonofthesouth

[GregVirginia7]

Have a Needle about 8 miles south west of DC...it’s been in the ground for about 7 years...does great! Hoping the Trachy is of a genetic variety that will keep it happy for many years...been in ground about 7 years as well...

[Alex High]

15 hours ago, mdsonofthesouth said:

 

Not my photo and I think this was dated in 2002 or 2003 time frame. Could be wrong... I believe it was planted in the 60s if I read correctly.

Ah yes, I have seen this picture. That palm is massive!

[Alex High]

14 hours ago, GregVirginia7 said:

Have a Needle about 8 miles south west of DC...it’s been in the ground for about 7 years...does great! Hoping the Trachy is of a genetic variety that will keep it happy for many years...been in ground about 7 years as well...

Nice palms! Your Trachycarpus is really doing well. I plan on planting a Trachycarpus in my yard soon and I hope it grows to look like that! Thanks for sharing!

[GregVirginia7]

Thank you! It’s a nice south face...house in front and a high fence in the back of the yard so it’s pretty well protected. Frost cloth all around on the ground in the winter Draws in the sun’s heat but we’ll see as it gets even taller! About a 7-foot trunk now...the Needle gets nothing but admiration and its positioning is roughly the same...gets the same winter sun.

[Alex High]

14 hours ago, GregVirginia7 said:

Thank you! It’s a nice south face...house in front and a high fence in the back of the yard so it’s pretty well protected. Frost cloth all around on the ground in the winter Draws in the sun’s heat but we’ll see as it gets even taller! About a 7-foot trunk now...the Needle gets nothing but admiration and its positioning is roughly the same...gets the same winter sun.

Nice! I am so glad to see people like you growing palms in the D.C. area. I feel like more palms have been planted over the past ten or so years in the area, but in the past few winters, many palms have died, especially Trachycarpus, so I am so glad to see that your palms are doing well!

[GregVirginia7]

I think Needles and Sabal Minors will be good, stable and consistent palms for our area. I didn’t picture the three Sabal Minors that I sprouted from seed from plants we planted in Delaware...never sprouted a palm seed before but managed to get three up and running and they are planted in the same area as the Trachy...I’m not going to protect them beyond pine needles and given the parent plants success in DE with no protection at all, I think they’ll do well...we’ll see...I’ve killed my share of palms but given our zone, would love to get one more type of trunking palm. I have a Brazoria which will trunk but it is a super slow grower compared to the Trachy...but past winters have shown it to be far less tolerant of cold than the Trachy. It had had a great year (mild 2019) Winter to fortify it so we’ll see...anyway, I’m with you on the excitement of growing palms in our area...everybody who comes over is always amazed! Below is the trunking Brazoria...I’ll give it minimal protection...not to be fatalistic, just want trunking  survivors like the Trachy.

[Alex High]

On 10/14/2020 at 5:07 PM, GregVirginia7 said:

I think Needles and Sabal Minors will be good, stable and consistent palms for our area. I didn’t picture the three Sabal Minors that I sprouted from seed from plants we planted in Delaware...never sprouted a palm seed before but managed to get three up and running and they are planted in the same area as the Trachy...I’m not going to protect them beyond pine needles and given the parent plants success in DE with no protection at all, I think they’ll do well...we’ll see...I’ve killed my share of palms but given our zone, would love to get one more type of trunking palm. I have a Brazoria which will trunk but it is a super slow grower compared to the Trachy...but past winters have shown it to be far less tolerant of cold than the Trachy. It had had a great year (mild 2019) Winter to fortify it so we’ll see...anyway, I’m with you on the excitement of growing palms in our area...everybody who comes over is always amazed! Below is the trunking Brazoria...I’ll give it minimal protection...not to be fatalistic, just want trunking  survivors like the Trachy.

I agree with you, needles and Sabal minor are definitely great stable and consistent palms for the area. Your Brazoria looks really nice! Good luck to you and your palm growing!