Closest palms to Asheville?

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

I got a apprenticeship position in a small town a little north of Asheville North Carolina.  Where would be the closest places where i could see any palms? I know Charlotte has plenty of Windmills, Palmettos and others mixed around, but that's still a 2.5 hour drive.  Anywhere y'all know of closer or that have gardens or such?  Would like to visit one in the coming week 

[Joe NC]

Once you head east a little and come down from the higher elevation, you get into zone 7b pretty quick.  Earlier in the fall I was out there, and there was a huge diversity of what people were growing.  Spruce, crape myrtle, hemlock and evergreen southern magnolia all in the same yard, the diversity in both cultivated yards and the forest was neat.

I bet you can find a windmill palm somewhere around the foothills.

Try scouring google street view in Marion or Morganton if you are ambitious.   I feel like I saw one somewhere around there. 

[NickJames]

Is Greenville too far?

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

37 minutes ago, NickJames said:

Is Greenville too far?

about 1 hour and 50 min, 

[NOT A TA]

Ask at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, and take a visit there when you have time.

[Kim]

The Biltmore Estate has a greenhouse with palms, amongst other delicate plants that can't make it outdoors. The house is nice, too.

[Brad Mondel]

Asheville is too cold for anything other than a Sabal Minor or Rhapidophyllum hystrix. I grew up there so the closest palms you will see are probably in Forest City NC or Spartanburg, SC. Many palmettos in Spartanburg. 

[Brad Mondel]

Here's some planted and naturalizing behind the Spartanburg medical center: 

[Brad Mondel]

[Brad Mondel]

Near Forest City, NC.

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

14 hours ago, Brad Mondel said:

Here's some planted and naturalizing behind the Spartanburg medical center: 

Thanks! thats over an hour closer to me than Charlotte, 

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

14 hours ago, Brad Mondel said:

Near Forest City, NC.

Looks like the Palmettos did real well after 2018 in Spartanburg, maybe 10-15% defoliation?  Zone 7B?  also wheres that pindo? you have a streetview link? 

Edited December 18, 2020 by Mr.SamuraiSword

[Brad Mondel]

It's in Greenville, this was right after that severe cold winter in '18. It has since made a full recovery. 

 

Dropped pin
Near 1451-1403 US-29, Greenville, SC 29609
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZtCGjKA8EJqbUqH88

[Brad Mondel]

 

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

On 12/18/2020 at 5:24 PM, Brad Mondel said:

I

 

washingtonia? U have a google map location for that?

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

Drove around Marshall today and saw a couple interesting things. It's zone 7a here keep in mind. 

Interesting yucca don't know what kind. 

 

These type ive seen in VA and NJ

About 4-5 foot tall prickly pear cactus variety

Edited December 20, 2020 by Mr.SamuraiSword

[EastCanadaTropicals]

On 12/11/2020 at 11:46 AM, Mr.SamuraiSword said:

I got a apprenticeship position in a small town a little north of Asheville North Carolina.  Where would be the closest places where i could see any palms? I know Charlotte has plenty of Windmills, Palmettos and others mixed around, but that's still a 2.5 hour drive.  Anywhere y'all know of closer or that have gardens or such?  Would like to visit one in the coming week 

I recommend you to live in Tryon to grow palms. Their zone 8a and Hendersonville is 7a/7b. 

[Brad Mondel]

On 12/20/2020 at 4:29 PM, Mr.SamuraiSword said:

washingtonia? U have a google map location for that?

Yeah, here it is.

Dropped pin
Near US-29, Greenville, SC 29605
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DTwQvPtVGki2pDKF7

[EastCanadaTropicals]

On 12/11/2020 at 11:46 AM, Mr.SamuraiSword said:

I got a apprenticeship position in a small town a little north of Asheville North Carolina.  Where would be the closest places where i could see any palms? I know Charlotte has plenty of Windmills, Palmettos and others mixed around, but that's still a 2.5 hour drive.  Anywhere y'all know of closer or that have gardens or such?  Would like to visit one in the coming week 

 

Edited December 24, 2020 by EastCanadaTropicals

[EastCanadaTropicals]

On 12/11/2020 at 11:46 AM, Mr.SamuraiSword said:

I got a apprenticeship position in a small town a little north of Asheville North Carolina.  Where would be the closest places where i could see any palms? I know Charlotte has plenty of Windmills, Palmettos and others mixed around, but that's still a 2.5 hour drive.  Anywhere y'all know of closer or that have gardens or such?  Would like to visit one in the coming week 

Move to Tryon, it's the closest place to Asheville in zone 8a, less than an hour away.

Edited January 8, 2021 by EastCanadaTropicals

[EastCanadaTropicals]

On 12/17/2020 at 9:05 PM, Brad Mondel said:

Asheville is too cold for anything other than a Sabal Minor or Rhapidophyllum hystrix. I grew up there so the closest palms you will see are probably in Forest City NC or Spartanburg, SC. Many palmettos in Spartanburg. 

What about Tryon?

Edited January 8, 2021 by EastCanadaTropicals

[Palm Man]

I used to live in Tryon/Columbus area. I planted lots of windmill palms, etc. There's a picture of my palms on Plant Delights Nursery website under Trachycarpus 'Columbus'. I don't think they sell it anymore- probably ran out of seeds. I also had a Sabal palmetto with about a 6' trunk that I planted from a 5 gallon. Last I knew it was still doing well, but I haven't been back to the area for several years. Once you get out of the mountains and down to the Tryon/Columbus area, the climate is a 7b/8a. BTW I also planted a Trachycarpus in Hendersonville at my work office. It had about an 8' trunk last I saw it. It was located at 666 Triple Springs Road, Hendersonville. I hope the winter of 2017-1018 didn't do it in.

https://www.plantdelights.com/products/trachycarpus-fortunei-columbus

 

[Palm Man]

I found some more old photos of palms around Spartanburg. They are still there after the 2017-18 freeze. 

[EastCanadaTropicals]

2 hours ago, Palm Man said:

I used to live in Tryon/Columbus area. I planted lots of windmill palms, etc. There's a picture of my palms on Plant Delights Nursery website under Trachycarpus 'Columbus'. I don't think they sell it anymore- probably ran out of seeds. I also had a Sabal palmetto with about a 6' trunk that I planted from a 5 gallon. Last I knew it was still doing well, but I haven't been back to the area for several years. Once you get out of the mountains and down to the Tryon/Columbus area, the climate is a 7b/8a. BTW I also planted a Trachycarpus in Hendersonville at my work office. It had about an 8' trunk last I saw it. It was located at 666 Triple Springs Road, Hendersonville. I hope the winter of 2017-1018 didn't do it in.

https://www.plantdelights.com/products/trachycarpus-fortunei-columbus

 

They should plant more palms in tryon.

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

Looks like I found the answer in Asheville.  This Pindo caught my eye driving near the north side.  About a foot of trunk height and total plant heigh about 5 feet. I asked the owner about it and apparently he planted it in spring 2018, as it was labeled a "hardy palm" at lowes.  He told me it was entirely defoliated that winter and a streetview shows it looked pretty dead. However it pulled through and after a low of 12 a few weeks back last year, has some minor frond burn.  I warned him he should wrap it if it gets much colder than that as It was surprising it made it thus far. The guy was more into tropical looking plants as a whole not particularly palms as this was the only one.  He also had several Opuntia species, various Yucca, Basjoo and Black bamboo plants outside.2019 streetview

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6278278,-82.5834268,3a,15y,49.75h,88.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sg8qKlS6UGpRBqx12c3UCjg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Edited January 10, 2021 by Mr.SamuraiSword
Added link

[EastCanadaTropicals]

9 minutes ago, Mr.SamuraiSword said:

Looks like I found the answer in Asheville.  This Pindo caught my eye driving near the north side.  About a foot of trunk height and total plant heigh about 5 feet. I asked the owner about it and apparently he planted it in spring 2018, as it was labeled a "hardy palm" at lowes.  He told me it was entirely defoliated that winter and a streetview shows it looked pretty dead. However it pulled through and after a low of 12 a few weeks back last year, has some minor frond burn.  I warned him he should wrap it if it gets much colder than that as It was surprising it made it thus far. The guy was more into tropical looking plants as a whole not particularly palms as this was the only one.  He also had several Opuntia species, various Yucca, Basjoo and Black bamboo plants outside.2019 streetview

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6278278,-82.5834268,3a,15y,49.75h,88.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sg8qKlS6UGpRBqx12c3UCjg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

You're better off growing palms in Tryon however, but nice find!

[Palm Man]

Yeah, your are right! He's lucky it survived at all. Last year's winter was mild. In a normal winter it would have been killed outright without serious heavy protection. The only palms I would consider growing in Asheville without protection would be something like Rhapidophyllum hystrix or Sabal minor, and then only when established. I think the coldest on record for Asheville is in the -20F+/- range. 

[EastCanadaTropicals]

7 minutes ago, Palm Man said:

Yeah, your are right! He's lucky it survived at all. Last year's winter was mild. In a normal winter it would have been killed outright without serious heavy protection. The only palms I would consider growing in Asheville without protection would be something like Rhapidophyllum hystrix or Sabal minor, and then only when established. I think the coldest on record for Asheville is in the -20F+/- range. 

Yeah, Tryon is a better choice.

[Brad Mondel]

I grew a hurricane cut palmetto I'm Asheville for three winters with just a sheet over it during cold spells. It finally died when I moved away. Butias will never survive without protection.

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

14 hours ago, Palm Man said:

Yeah, your are right! He's lucky it survived at all. Last year's winter was mild. In a normal winter it would have been killed outright without serious heavy protection. The only palms I would consider growing in Asheville without protection would be something like Rhapidophyllum hystrix or Sabal minor, and then only when established. I think the coldest on record for Asheville is in the -20F+/- range. 

So far its survived winters of 2018, 2019, and midway through 2020, hopefully nothing gets it this year,  I will add my photo's dont do it justice.  Minor burn on fronds and all were strong silver besides a couple stubby dead ones by the base.  

Edited January 10, 2021 by Mr.SamuraiSword

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

Was in western NC to visit relatives and was passing through Asheville. Thought id check in on the Pindo, and low and beyond after a year and a couple months its still alive with several green fronds. No protection whatsoever through winter. 

[Bigfish]

There are a bunch of palms in Knoxville, which isn’t too far away.  You need to know where to look though.