Can Royal palm of Queen palm thrive in Vegas

[Sasha72]

Hi there,

I just joined this forum and have a quick question for you guys.

Can Royal palm thrive or at least survive(for start) in Vegas valley.I just moved here from California and weather is bit different.High altitude with dry air and also couple days in winter it gets below zero (°C).

Same question goes for Queen Piru ?

If yes,on one or both,where do you buys them?There is one place here (Moon Valley nursery) which in my opinion is complete rippoff.Prices on their stuff is more than a gold.They want 1000$ for Queen palm in 24in crate.

Thanks a lot.

[kinzyjr]

@RyManUtah Are there any queens for sale around Las Vegas?

@Sasha72 Welcome to PalmTalk!  Queens, maybe.  Royals, probably not, but I'll be happy to be wrong.  You'd have to keep both under some light shade I imagine to keep them from burning in your summers.

[James B]

Royals do well in Palm Springs and Phoenix area with lots of water. I’d say it’s quite possible since Palm Springs similar to Vegas except Vegas does get colder. 

[enigma99]

Lol moon valley. Notorious for being super high. But 1k for a 24box queen? Wow

[wrigjef]

No chance a Royal survives in Vegas even short term.  Queens are also very marginal there.  Look around the neighborhoods and you will see very few if any Queens. I’m sure there are a few ratty looking ones around.  Queen Palms are the worst palms in my opinion.  The vast majority around Phoenix aren’t even worth keeping.  I have seen some beautiful looking Queens in Coastal California. Seems like Queens in Desert areas struggle for the most part as they hate dry winds

I would go with a Mule Palm which is hardier and better looking then a Queen IMO.   

[Zoltan]

You hardly see queen palms there, and even if you do they well protected but usually not good lookin...Its funny when i went to las vegas i wasnt into game but checking palms...I only see a handful of quuens not good looking.. You better search online what palms good in that region .I dont have experience due im in Jacksonville fl 

[palmsOrl]

It is too cold in Las Vegas and also overall too dry for queen palms or royals to survive.

God Bless America

-Michael

[96720]

Mules are a great choice they take a lot of cold and they look great!!!

[Xerarch]

As has already been answered but Royals are a no-go for sure, there are a handful of queens around town but they too are marginal there.  Try Star Valley nursery instead for a good selection of what to grow, big box stores would also have better pricing than the aforementioned Lunar Basin nursery.

[Sasha72]

23 hours ago, Zoltan said:

 

 

WRIGJEF,

Thanks for the suggestion brother. I just checked those (MULE PALMS) and they're gorgeous palms with  good hardiness for  some cold Summerlin winter nights. Also most of you are right.Most of the Queens that I've seen around are doing very bad. Now after couple cold months they're all lookin yellow and "sad".

ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS.

Where do I safely buy those MULES and when is good time to buy them/plant them ?

I want to avoid trip to damn MOON VALLEY nursery since they're crazy with their prices on plants.

Any plantations in Southern Cali or Arizona ? I wouldn't mind driving there to pick and haul them up.

Once again.THANK YOU ALL for your expert answers and even better suggestions !!!

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by Sasha72

[mnorell]

May I suggest for inspiration (if you haven't done it already) that you go over to the Mirage on the Strip and take a look at their landscaping, to see what can be grown successfully in Vegas and in what sun/shade percentages, landscaping combinations, etc. They have done a beautiful job of combining species and have some unusual stuff (like Arenga engleri) and nice stands of Rhapis excelsa under shade at the entrance, and lots of palms and companion plants everywhere. If you can get to the pool area (you have to have a room-key, and the pool is only open for I think about six months a year) there are lots of great ideas to give a very tropical effect, it feels very lush. You might be able to call the offices and ask for permission to look at the pool landscaping if you explain why you want to see it.

[wrigjef]

36 minutes ago, Sasha72 said:

 

WRIGJEF,

Thanks for the suggestion brother. I just checked those (MULE PALMS) and they're gorgeous palms with  good hardiness for  some cold Summerlin winter nights. Also most of you are right.Most of the Queens that I've seen around are doing very bad. Now after couple cold months they're all lookin yellow and "sad".

ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS.

Where do I safely buy those MULES and when is good time to buy them/plant them ?

I want to avoid trip to damn MOON VALLEY nursery since they're crazy with their prices on plants.

Any plantations in Southern Cali or Arizona ? I wouldn't mind driving there to pick and haul them up.

Once again.THANK YOU ALL for your expert answers and even better suggestions !!!

 

Try Home Depot or Lowes first as they may sell some small Mules at a good price.  I have found they grow very quick.  My Mule was in a 5 gallon Pot 6 years ago.  It’s now about 25 feet tall and competing with my Bismarck.  
When in Phoenix visit Shamus O Leary Tropicals. He has some amazing plants for sale plus some very nice trees in the ground.  He has a Coconut Palm, Royal and Twin Foxtails in the ground.   
Pacific Palms is another good nursery with beautiful trees.  This place has a lot of Mules but nothing is cheap any more.   My foot is a size 10. It’s a thick trunk. 

[Chris Chance]

I used to live in Vegas for years and it definitely gets way too cold for Royals there. Heck in 2007 I remember queens and even Washingtonia robusta defoliate. Also I would definitely plant some mules there and definitely wouldn't mess with queens.

[Sasha72]

3 hours ago, wrigjef said:

Try Home Depot or Lowes first as they may sell some small Mules at a good price.  I have found they grow very quick.  My Mule was in a 5 gallon Pot 6 years ago.  It’s now about 25 feet tall and competing with my Bismarck.  
When in Phoenix visit Shamus O Leary Tropicals. He has some amazing plants for sale plus some very nice trees in the ground.  He has a Coconut Palm, Royal and Twin Foxtails in the ground.   
Pacific Palms is another good nursery with beautiful trees.  This place has a lot of Mules but nothing is cheap any more.   My foot is a size 10. It’s a thick trunk. 

Dang,those look really good and healthy. So they're I guess on 2 feet per year,when it comes to growth,right ? Anything special that you're doing for them when it comes to soil,fertilizer or whatever else you might use?

[wrigjef]

At least 2 feet per year probably more.  I do have them on a drip which waters 7 days a week year round.  15 minutes in the winter and summer is what has worked for 6 years.   I have a small area of grass about 600 square feet that I water the heck out of and some of my Palms are surrounding the grass. I strongly believe two of my Queens are thriving due to the proximity of the grass. Most Queens in the Desert are planted in Rock and no grass or other plants to help protect and most importantly bring humidity. 
I think a Mule will do Fine in Summerlin with little protection the first few years.  In the warmer months you can’t over water it!  
You can see the grass near the trunk of the Mule.   Also a pic from my side patio.  My Fruiting Dwarf Cavendish Banana just for fun.  It’s amazing what can be grown in Phoenix.  

My pride and joy is the Dypsis Lutescens in the last pic.  It’s put on growth all winter, never went dormant as we had another very mild winter so far.  Coldest I have seen is 38 one night.  

Edited February 1, 2022 by wrigjef

[Sasha72]

So,after long search for Mules here in Vegas I come up with nothing at all damnit.It look like I'll have to drive to California to get some.

My other question(sorry if its silly for ypu experts).Can I grow KING palm here in Vegas. It gets below zero for maybe 7 to 10 days in winter...30 deg.

[Chris Chance]

23 minutes ago, Sasha72 said:

So,after long search for Mules here in Vegas I come up with nothing at all damnit.It look like I'll have to drive to California to get some.

My other question(sorry if its silly for ypu experts).Can I grow KING palm here in Vegas. It gets below zero for maybe 7 to 10 days in winter...30 deg.

You can definitely get some cool stuff that would do great there if you make a trip to California. 

I think kings are completely out of question there. The summer heat alone would fry them even in the shade. Even the area I'm in is hard on kings when it gets over 100. 

[billt]

I live in Lake Havasu City,  Az. Here you won't find a single Queen Palm. When I lived in Glendale, Az. (200 miles away), I lost 4 out of 4 Queen Palms in 22 years. The last one grew from a 1 gallon pot, to around 40 ft. tall, and around a good foot at the trunk. It still died. Here Fan Palms survive the best. They require the least water, and can take the wind and the high Summertime temperatures.

[Sasha72]

Guys,

Hor far from trunk,my drip lile ahoud be set up?

Also ,correct me if im wrong please.

Here in Vegas our summers and weather in general is brutal and due to those high temps im runnin 4gph heads (4 of them) per palm tree ,3 times a week, 40 min long.

Is that too much or too litlle.

Btw,its mule palms im talking abouy and they're about 10 inch trunk and maybe 8-10 feet tall.

Experts,please advise !

Thanks as always for all your help.