I germinated this Archontophoenix cunninghamiana summer of 2019, and I stuck it in the ground this past spring. I have been wanting to try one with protection just because I thought it would be to have a zone 9b+ palm in a borderlines 7a/7b area. So here it is, my Archontophoenix cunninghamiana with a heating cable just thrown around it covered by an old sheet and a tarp in Central Virginia. I chose this species because I not only like how it looks but because I know they can handle cooler conditions, which is perfect for inside of the protection. I open the bottom flaps to let light in and to give it ventilation during warmer days. It is actually growing inside of the protection too. One day about a month ago I left it uncovered and it got down to 30°F briefly, which burnt some of the fronds and the spear quite a bit. I’ll post updates. 

Edited December 29, 20205 yr by PalmTreeDude

@PalmTreeDude good luck to you brotha, will def be a cool conversation piece in a couple years 

6 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

I germinated this Archontophoenix cunninghamiana summer of 2019, and I stuck it in the ground this past spring. I have been wanting to try one with protection just because I thought it would be to have a zone 9b+ palm in a borderlines 7a/7b area. So here it is, my Archontophoenix cunninghamiana with a heating cable just thrown around it covered by an old sheet and a tarp in Central Virginia. I chose this species because I not only like how it looks but because I know they can handle cooler conditions, which is perfect for inside of the protection. I open the bottom flaps to let light in and to give it ventilation during warmer days. It is actually growing inside of the protection too. One day about a month ago I left it uncovered and it got down to 30°F briefly, which burnt some of the fronds and the spear quite a bit. I’ll post updates. 

Wrap the palm alongside this protection, then you'll be fine. Ill do the same thing for Washingtonia Filibusta once I get seed of it.

On 12/29/2020 at 3:06 PM, PalmTreeDude said:

I germinated this Archontophoenix cunninghamiana summer of 2019, and I stuck it in the ground this past spring. I have been wanting to try one with protection just because I thought it would be to have a zone 9b+ palm in a borderlines 7a/7b area. So here it is, my Archontophoenix cunninghamiana with a heating cable just thrown around it covered by an old sheet and a tarp in Central Virginia. I chose this species because I not only like how it looks but because I know they can handle cooler conditions, which is perfect for inside of the protection. I open the bottom flaps to let light in and to give it ventilation during warmer days. It is actually growing inside of the protection too. One day about a month ago I left it uncovered and it got down to 30°F briefly, which burnt some of the fronds and the spear quite a bit. I’ll post updates. 

Is that a short variety that can be easily protected as it gets older?

19 hours ago, EastCanadaTropicals said:

Wrap the palm alongside this protection, then you'll be fine. Ill do the same thing for Washingtonia Filibusta once I get seed of 

3 minutes ago, GregVirginia7 said:

Is that a short variety that can be easily protected as it gets older?

Sorry...should have looked it up first...this is a tall one...what are your thoughts as it gets taller?

3 minutes ago, GregVirginia7 said:

Is that a short variety that can be easily protected as it gets older?

 

Nice man!  Ha!

Your issue is going to be that these grow explosively fast...nothing faster to go vertical in my yard (these and Queens, anyway.)

That would be great if it got big! 

Edited January 2, 20215 yr by PalmTreeDude

do you have any pictures of it without protection?

All the best, intrigued to see how you get on with it. I have them growing in pots and definitely pretty fast growing outside. 
 

what are your winters like out of interest?

Here it is today, I need to expand its little fence. 

Have you considered soil temps?

I love that $#!+

Zone pushing!

8 hours ago, SeanK said:

Have you considered soil temps?

Yes, I try to keep the soil directly around the palm from freezing in the winter. 

5 hours ago, N8ALLRIGHT said:

I love that $#!+

Zone pushing!

Thanks! This is some big zone pushing! 

Edited August 15, 20214 yr by PalmTreeDude

Update 

@PalmTreeDude Right on man

Awesome!!!

Update 6/5/2022 

 

Wow!  

21 minutes ago, PalmTreeDude said:

Update 6/5/2022 

 

Wow…awesome! Nice job…thanks for the follow up…that’s exciting stuff there.

2 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

Update 6/5/2022

Very nice!    What kind of sun exposure does it get?

Here is my 'Illawara' variety on the east side of my house.

Edited June 5, 20224 yr by Fusca

On 6/5/2022 at 5:08 PM, Fusca said:

Very nice!    What kind of sun exposure does it get?

Here is my 'Illawara' variety on the east side of my house.

Thanks! It gets full sun from about 10 AM until 3 PM during the summer. 

Any updates ?

@PalmTreeDude, how bout an update?