Hardy palms are slow

[climate change virginia]

Hi I have noticed hardy palms are slower than most plants for example (most)Butia spp: Slow, (most)Sabal spp: slow, (most)Trachycarpus: Slow, Jubaea: extremely slow. This is just something I observed.

Edited February 10, 2021 by climate change virginia

[PalmatierMeg]

Yes, they are. They will pick up speed when weather warms up.

[Allen]

Trachy are rated Med at least.  I wouldn't put them in the slow category or they would not be widely nursery available.

[Chester B]

3 hours ago, climate change virginia said:

Hi I have noticed hardy palms are slower than most plants

There are fast and slow plants, this is too generalized a statement.

For example, for similar sized plants/trees my Trachycarpus grow much faster than my Magnolia trees, fatsia, Olive trees, Bay trees, Arbutus trees, Paw paws, Fejoia, and more, but slower than my Eucalyptus, Cherry tree, plum tree and Mulberries.

From a % growth perspective, I have many small species of evergreen ferns that have not even doubled in size in 2 years, whereas my Trachycarpus and Chamaerops easily accomplish this in one growing season.

Cold hardy palm does not equal slow growth to most other plants.  I can name many things in my garden that are slower, the palms are just part of a spectrum.

 

[DAVEinMB]

Washingtonia Robusta is considered a cold hardy palm and those things are rockets 

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

4 hours ago, climate change virginia said:

Hi I have noticed hardy palms are slower than most plants for example (most)Butia spp: Slow, (most)Sabal spp: slow, (most)Trachycarpus: Slow, Jubaea: extremely slow. This is just something I observed.

Trachycarpus isn't too bad, they put out around 20 fronds a year unlike Palmettos or Minor pushing maybe 5 at most.  But if you mean fast like Carpentaria, Veitchia or Roystonea, the closest thing is Washingtonia Robusta, like Dave said. Of course they are somewhat marginal in zone 8b and basically impossible in 8a, so not cold hardy enough for VA winters.  Chamaedorea radicalis is zone 8b and grows pretty fast, though even the large form only tops out around 15ft.  I would throw in Filibusta hybrids as they still grow fast compared to the usual hardier suspects. 

Edited February 10, 2021 by Mr.SamuraiSword

[Ben in Norcal]

Yep, some Trachys are absolutely fast - my latisectus are as fast as an Archontophoenix.  Washingtonia, fast, many hybrids (e.g. JxS, BxP), fast.

[NBTX11]

W. Filifera may not be quite as fast as W. Robusta, but they are also rockets.  These things grow like crazy.  And very cold hardy.  The amount of fronds put our per year is large.

[Chester B]

There are also some extremely slow growing tropical palms as well.

[EastCanadaTropicals]

5 hours ago, DAVEinMB said:

Washingtonia Robusta is considered a cold hardy palm and those things are rockets 

I don't count robusta as cold hardy, but filibusta yes.

[NBTX11]

6 minutes ago, EastCanadaTropicals said:

I don't count robusta as cold hardy, but filibusta yes.

I do.  They are very hardy.  Leaf hardy to around 20F, and trunk hardy to like 10 or 12F probably.  That's hardy.

[DAVEinMB]

12 minutes ago, EastCanadaTropicals said:

I don't count robusta as cold hardy, but filibusta yes.

Filibusta is definitely tougher than Robusta but you're splitting hairs

[Fallen Munk]

Jubaea are not as slow as most people think if you keep them happy.

[Manalto]

Mule palms are pretty hardy (8B?) and they are impressively fast. 

Sabal palmetto, the most conspicuous and familiar cold-hardy species, may bear some responsibility for contributing to the reputation of cold-hardy palms as slow.  I know people have said that needle palm isn't that slow but I'm still waiting for mine to get the memo.

[climate change virginia]

15 hours ago, NBTX11 said:

I do.  They are very hardy.  Leaf hardy to around 20F, and trunk hardy to like 10 or 12F probably.  That's hardy.

what does leaf and trunk hardy mean

Edited February 11, 2021 by climate change virginia

[Allen]

2 hours ago, climate change virginia said:

what does leaf and trunk hardy mean

Cold hardiness of fronds and trunk.  Palms vary in cold hardiness where they take damage.  Palms are generally damaged in this general order newest spear base, petiole, newest spear top, frond,  trunk, roots.  Frozen roots will severely damage/kill most palms but many time roots only freeze part way down only damaging the palm.  

[NBTX11]

6 hours ago, climate change virginia said:

what does leaf and trunk hardy mean

Essentially that anything below 20F will damage the fronds of a W. Robusta.  However, unless the cold was too severe, the palm will recover and grow new healthy fronds (eventually).

However, any temperatures below approximately 10-12F, depending on a variety of factors, may outright kill the palm.  That is an estimate of whey the palm might die.  Some palms have taken much lower, while some have died at 15F or so.

[Jtee]

When I lived in New Braunfels Texas I had several windmill palms planted. They all grew super fast. I had heard they were slow growers but not from what I observed. Those things grew like weeds. 
I planted a small palmetto palm. It was a small 1 gallon and within a few years had fronds up to 5 feet tall.

Pindo’s seem to grow really slow.  I had a Mediterranean fan palm and that grew fast as well. Faster than I thought it would be. Maybe they just need the right climate and mild winters to really excel

 

[Jimhardy]

name a fast growing palm that can survive 0(F)

 

 

[Allen]

1 hour ago, Jimhardy said:

name a fast growing palm that can survive 0(F)

 

 

A large variety sabal minor went from 4 inch strap to 5 foot in 3 years for me and took 0F in 2018.  Closest I know to this scenario you mention.  These minor get 7 foot or so here

[NBTX11]

3 hours ago, Jimhardy said:

name a fast growing palm that can survive 0(F)

 

 

Washingtonia Filifera

[kbob11]

My 4ft Trachy grew to almost 6’ this season here in 6a Massachusetts.  Palmgain and lots of water.

[ahosey01]

Acrocomia totai is cold hardy to low 20s in dry conditions and grows like forty-three feet a year.

[Palmlover_78]

My Windmill is Growing like a weed, it is in the house in a sunny window , and over the winter it has grown maybe 2" and put out 4 fronds....:P

 

[Jimhardy]

On 2/12/2021 at 10:20 AM, NBTX11 said:

Washingtonia Filifera

Hmmmm....maybe west of the Mississippi but not in the east.