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Best reliable palms for northern San Antonio?


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Posted

I see a lot of dead Washingtonia trunks all over the place, but when I drive deeper into the city there are a lot of healthy specimens that have bounced back. What I imagine are Texas Palmettos all look healthy (not enough people plant these here), as do Trachycarpus Fortunei. I've seen one large Canary Island Date palm at the Rim that looks like it's recovering, and some Butia at a local restaurant. I went to a local nursery and the guy had tons of very healthy looking mule palms, but I haven't seen those anywhere outside of there. 

Still, it seems like 99% of what's planted are Washingtonia, and even then there aren't that many of them considering what I would think could grow down here. 

I'm guessing:

Butia

Trachycarpus

Sabals

Rhapidophyllum (needle palm)

Chamaerops (euro fan palm)

I wonder about:

Brahea

Thrthrinax campestris

Some Sabels like Sabal uresana?

Nannorrhops (Mazari palm)

Phoenix? 

Maybe other stuff I'm unaware of that's rarer, or I'm just overlooking?

I believe the area I'm in now is zone 8b, but prone to cold snaps every decade or so that thin out the herd, sadly, from what I've read. 

 

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Posted

@fr8train have you read this thread?  It's still active in this forum as of this weekend.  The Oblate school is on the north side just inside Loop 410 at San Pedro.  Plenty of Brahea, Livistona, Phoenix and many other species we're growing there for many years before Palmageddon.  @GoatLockerGuns has documented palms that have survived that once-a-century cold event of 9°F without protection including Allagoptera arenaria, Arenga engleri, mule palms, etc.  Butia are easily cold hardy enough but don't do that well in the higher alkaline soils in the area.  Sabal uresana is a perfect palm for San Antonio due to its cold hardiness AND high drought/heat tolerance.

 

  • Like 2
  • Upvote 3

Jon Sunder

Posted (edited)
  On 11/9/2022 at 4:18 PM, Fusca said:

@fr8train have you read this thread?  It's still active in this forum as of this weekend.  The Oblate school is on the north side just inside Loop 410 at San Pedro.  Plenty of Brahea, Livistona, Phoenix and many other species we're growing there for many years before Palmageddon.  @GoatLockerGuns has documented palms that have survived that once-a-century cold event of 9°F without protection including Allagoptera arenaria, Arenga engleri, mule palms, etc.  Butia are easily cold hardy enough but don't do that well in the higher alkaline soils in the area.  Sabal uresana is a perfect palm for San Antonio due to its cold hardiness AND high drought/heat tolerance.

 

Expand  

Wow! I was not aware of that. I'll have to take a drive out there as soon as I can. The photos at the beginning of the thread look amazing, it's a real shame about the freeze. 

Edited by fr8train

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Posted
  On 11/9/2022 at 4:39 AM, fr8train said:

I see a lot of dead Washingtonia trunks all over the place, but when I drive deeper into the city there are a lot of healthy specimens that have bounced back. What I imagine are Texas Palmettos all look healthy (not enough people plant these here), as do Trachycarpus Fortunei. I've seen one large Canary Island Date palm at the Rim that looks like it's recovering, and some Butia at a local restaurant. I went to a local nursery and the guy had tons of very healthy looking mule palms, but I haven't seen those anywhere outside of there. 

Still, it seems like 99% of what's planted are Washingtonia, and even then there aren't that many of them considering what I would think could grow down here. 

I'm guessing:

Butia

Trachycarpus

Sabals

Rhapidophyllum (needle palm)

Chamaerops (euro fan palm)

I wonder about:

Brahea

Thrthrinax campestris

Some Sabels like Sabal uresana?

Nannorrhops (Mazari palm)

Phoenix? 

Maybe other stuff I'm unaware of that's rarer, or I'm just overlooking?

I believe the area I'm in now is zone 8b, but prone to cold snaps every decade or so that thin out the herd, sadly, from what I've read. 

 

Expand  

Butia, Sabals, filifera, Brahea, P. canariensis,  Chamaerops, Trachycarpus, Chamaedorea

Uresana did not get defoliated in Austin during the Feb 2021 freeze, so SA would be quite reliable. 

  • Like 3
Posted (edited)
  On 11/9/2022 at 4:39 AM, fr8train said:

I see a lot of dead Washingtonia trunks all over the place, but when I drive deeper into the city there are a lot of healthy specimens that have bounced back.

 

Expand  

What kind of Washingtonia are you referring to?

Washingtonia Filifera are 100 percent hardy for Anywhere in San Antonio, including the northern reaches of the city.

Washingtonia Hybrids are also hardy for San Antonio, particularly moderate and thick trunked hybrids.

What you are seeing is dead Washingtonia Robusta (and possibly some thin hybrids).  And like you said, the closer you get to the city core, the more thin Washingtonias you see.  But the greater point is that Washingtonia Filifera and obvious hybrids are completely hardy for San Antonio. 

Your core of palms that are long term survivors in San Antonio are Phoenix Canariensis, Trachycarpus Fortunei, Sabal Palmetto, Sabal Mexicana, Washingtonia Hybrids, Washingtonia Filifera, and Chamaerops Humilis.  Yeah there are others also like Washingtonia Robusta (downtown) and Livistona Chinensis that survived the freeze, but the ones I mentioned are your normal go to palms for SA. 

I've been here quite a while and I remember when there were big queen palms in back yards of San Antonio.  Like around 2010, there were a significant number of larger queen palms.  2011 killed a lot off and 2021 finished off what remained.

Edited by NBTX11
  • Like 1
Posted

North of 1604 will be various sabals, chamaerops, filifera and filifera dominant hybrids. Rhapidophyllum hystrix and butia may not like the soil and other growing conditions, while trachycarpus seems to do best with protection from the afternoon sun . Nannorrhops, brahea and the cold hardy chamaedorea species should do fine in San Antonio, but these palms are not very common in the region. 

The phoenix genus is susceptible to disease and may no longer be reliable. Also, I have heard that SAWS water has a higher salt content than in the past, so that could be an issue going forward.

I think most of the mule palms die when planted, but I could be wrong about that.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
  On 11/13/2022 at 7:27 AM, amh said:

North of 1604 will be various sabals, chamaerops, filifera and filifera dominant hybrids. Rhapidophyllum hystrix and butia may not like the soil and other growing conditions, while trachycarpus seems to do best with protection from the afternoon sun . Nannorrhops, brahea and the cold hardy chamaedorea species should do fine in San Antonio, but these palms are not very common in the region. 

The phoenix genus is susceptible to disease and may no longer be reliable. Also, I have heard that SAWS water has a higher salt content than in the past, so that could be an issue going forward.

I think most of the mule palms die when planted, but I could be wrong about that.

Expand  

I'm around Fair Oaks Ranch now. I've seen a few palm trees in people's yards, but generally almost nothing. It's good to know Sabals can make it out here, or maybe filifera, like NBTX11 said. It's a shame so few people plant palms considering there are some nice varieties that can make it. 

Edited by fr8train

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Posted
  On 11/15/2022 at 5:03 AM, fr8train said:

I'm around Fair Oaks Ranch now. I've seen a few palm trees in people's yards, but generally almost nothing. It's good to know Sabals can make it out here, or maybe filifera, like NBTX11 said. It's a shame so few people plant palms considering there are some nice varieties that can make it. 

Expand  

People north of 1604 are more into the hill country lifestyle and so you’re going to see less palms than further in town in my opinion. But you still should be good on the palms I mentioned unless you’re in Kerrville or somewhere cold like that. 

Posted
  On 11/15/2022 at 5:03 AM, fr8train said:

I'm around Fair Oaks Ranch now. I've seen a few palm trees in people's yards, but generally almost nothing. It's good to know Sabals can make it out here, or maybe filifera, like NBTX11 said. It's a shame so few people plant palms considering there are some nice varieties that can make it. 

Expand  

It’s very much like this in the Columbia are, local natives seem to have little to no interest in palms. You will see sago’s more often in these situations. It’s the transplants such as myself that seem more geared towards palms. 😂

Posted
  On 11/15/2022 at 5:03 AM, fr8train said:

I'm around Fair Oaks Ranch now. I've seen a few palm trees in people's yards, but generally almost nothing. It's good to know Sabals can make it out here, or maybe filifera, like NBTX11 said. It's a shame so few people plant palms considering there are some nice varieties that can make it. 

Expand  

Altitude is going to matter in this area because you could be zone 8A or zone 8B depending on just a hundred feet Sabal mexicana will be the best option for a trunking palm, Trachycarpus Fortunei is a good option if you have dirt and sun protection, and Washingtonia Filifera is another option. If you are in a low area, you will have less freezing precipitation and lower temperatures, while higher altitudes will have more freezing precipitation and milder temperatures. The smaller cold hardy palms should survive, but the Sabal genus is best suited for the hill country.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
  On 11/15/2022 at 6:16 PM, RJ said:

It’s very much like this in the Columbia are, local natives seem to have little to no interest in palms. You will see sago’s more often in these situations. It’s the transplants such as myself that seem more geared towards palms. 😂

Expand  

There’s a lot of palm trees in this area. Just not in the area that’s being discussed. If you’re familiar with the terrain of the greater San Antonio area, the area that’s being discussed has hilly wooded terrain on the far north side of San Antonio called the “hill country”. Far less palm trees. In town San Antonio has tons of palm trees everywhere. But the area north of 1604 has few due to the terrain type. People are definitely into palm trees in the city of San Antonio. Inside of Loop 410 is zone 9a. 

Edited by NBTX11
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Posted (edited)
  On 11/15/2022 at 7:52 PM, amh said:

Altitude is going to matter in this area because you could be zone 8A or zone 8B depending on just a hundred feet Sabal mexicana will be the best option for a trunking palm, Trachycarpus Fortunei is a good option if you have dirt and sun protection, and Washingtonia Filifera is another option. If you are in a low area, you will have less freezing precipitation and lower temperatures, while higher altitudes will have more freezing precipitation and milder temperatures. The smaller cold hardy palms should survive, but the Sabal genus is best suited for the hill country.

Expand  

According to the 2012 USDA zone map, there are no zone 8a areas anywhere near San Antonio only 9a and 8b. The nearest 8a is in Kerrville and Fredericksburg over an hour away to the north and west. There’s even a 9a pocket in Austin 

02524268-6D55-48C5-B952-AEA338B1EBBE.jpeg

Edited by NBTX11
  • Like 1
Posted
  On 11/15/2022 at 7:52 PM, amh said:

Altitude is going to matter in this area

Expand  

I think you are correct with your observation on elevation change in the area affecting weather conditions.  I have seen those micro-climate differences first had.  I have noticed these changes most often in the winter, where it can be over 5 degrees Fahrenheit colder in the valleys between hills than on top of the hills.  Like you said, the hill tops are more exposed though.  Every location in Texas seems to have its benefits and challenges.  My palms are planted on top of one of those hills.  Its almost always colder 250 feet down the hill, but those winds on the exposed hills though....  My palms just keep on keepin' on...until they don't anymore.

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Unified Theory of Palm Seed Germination

image.png.2a6e16e02a0a8bfb8a478ab737de4bb1.png

(Where: bh = bottom heat, fs = fresh seed, L = love, m = magic, p = patience, and t = time)

DISCLAIMER: Working theory; not yet peer reviewed.

"Fronds come and go; the spear is life!" - Anonymous Palmtalker

Posted
  On 11/16/2022 at 3:59 AM, GoatLockerGuns said:

I think you are correct with your observation on elevation change in the area affecting weather conditions.  I have seen those micro-climate differences first had.  I have noticed these changes most often in the winter, where it can be over 5 degrees Fahrenheit colder in the valleys between hills than on top of the hills.  Like you said, the hill tops are more exposed though.  Every location in Texas seems to have its benefits and challenges.  My palms are planted on top of one of those hills.  Its almost always colder 250 feet down the hill, but those winds on the exposed hills though....  My palms just keep on keepin' on...until they don't anymore.

Expand  

I live in a creek valley in Austin, and my temperature during a cold front is a bit higher in the sheltered valley, however the coldest temperatures usually come the night after a cold front when the air is still. Then the cold air settles in the valley and it gets much colder (easily 5 degrees) then the coldest temperature during the cold front, but there is usually no wind to accelerate the heat loss.

I would still choose a hill over a valley if all else is equal. 

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Posted (edited)
  On 11/16/2022 at 3:59 AM, GoatLockerGuns said:

I think you are correct with your observation on elevation change in the area affecting weather conditions.  I have seen those micro-climate differences first had.  I have noticed these changes most often in the winter, where it can be over 5 degrees Fahrenheit colder in the valleys between hills than on top of the hills.  Like you said, the hill tops are more exposed though.  Every location in Texas seems to have its benefits and challenges.  My palms are planted on top of one of those hills.  Its almost always colder 250 feet down the hill, but those winds on the exposed hills though....  My palms just keep on keepin' on...until they don't anymore.

Expand  

The more arid conditions and general altitude matter. The difference gets even bigger as you head west on I10 and once you pass that first hill after 46, everything changes. Most of the hardy palms will survive after they have been in ground for a few years, but a bad freeze can wipe out new plantings. I think ice storms will be your only real problem.

  On 11/16/2022 at 8:19 PM, Dimovi said:

I live in a creek valley in Austin, and my temperature during a cold front is a bit higher in the sheltered valley, however the coldest temperatures usually come the night after a cold front when the air is still. Then the cold air settles in the valley and it gets much colder (easily 5 degrees) then the coldest temperature during the cold front, but there is usually no wind to accelerate the heat loss.

I would still choose a hill over a valley if all else is equal. 

Expand  

My rule of thumb is subtract 10 degrees from the forecast for mine and surrounding yards. My area seems to be worst than others, but 5 to 6 degrees is about normal. 

The best location would probably be 2/3's up the hill with forest to the northwest.

Edited by amh
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  • Upvote 1
Posted
  On 11/13/2022 at 7:27 AM, amh said:

North of 1604 will be various sabals, chamaerops, filifera and filifera dominant hybrids. Rhapidophyllum hystrix and butia may not like the soil and other growing conditions, while trachycarpus seems to do best with protection from the afternoon sun . Nannorrhops, brahea and the cold hardy chamaedorea species should do fine in San Antonio, but these palms are not very common in the region. 

The phoenix genus is susceptible to disease and may no longer be reliable. Also, I have heard that SAWS water has a higher salt content than in the past, so that could be an issue going forward.

I think most of the mule palms die when planted, but I could be wrong about that.

Expand  

Nursery guy at Buddha Palms said 70 to 75 percent of all mule palms made it thru Palmaggedon unprotected.  Imagine you give them a little protection.  I would say mules are cold hardy for SA . 

 

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 11/17/2022 at 1:05 AM, MarcusH said:

Nursery guy at Buddha Palms said 70 to 75 percent of all mule palms made it thru Palmaggedon unprotected.  Imagine you give them a little protection.  I would say mules are cold hardy for SA . 

 

Expand  

The mules should be hardy for most of the San Antonio, but I never see them planted. I don't know where they all go after being purchased.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
  On 11/17/2022 at 1:08 AM, amh said:

The mules should be hardy for most of the San Antonio, but I never see them planted. I don't know where they all go after being purchased.

Expand  

I saw a bunch of huge mules at palm buddha and they looked really healthy. I wonder what the owners did with them during the big freeze?

Edit: I just saw MarcusH's post 

Edited by fr8train
  • Upvote 1

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Posted

Does anyone know how palm buddha is on pricing? He has a good selection of palms from what I saw, but I had to run away the last time I was there due to mosquitos. 

  • Upvote 1

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Posted

Lol the owner offered me some mosquito spray after he saw me constantly rubbing my legs . I can't compare prices but it seems to be that they're averaged priced. 

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Posted
  On 11/17/2022 at 1:11 AM, fr8train said:

I saw a bunch of huge mules at palm buddha and they looked really healthy. I wonder what the owners did with them during the big freeze?

Edit: I just saw MarcusH's post 

Expand  

He told me that he protected as much as he could.  Once established cover the trunk when temps go 20 and below.  Christmas lights increase the chances of survival even more.  Unprotected survival rate is anywhere between 70 to 75 percent if we get a winter like February 2021 again.  The mule palms are just pricey .  He has mules from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars . 

  • Like 1
Posted

My neighbor's house...I think the dude is tripping if he thinks those planted Foxtail's will survive long term in NW Bexar County.  I am rooting for him though....

 

20221117_173434.jpg

  • Like 3

Unified Theory of Palm Seed Germination

image.png.2a6e16e02a0a8bfb8a478ab737de4bb1.png

(Where: bh = bottom heat, fs = fresh seed, L = love, m = magic, p = patience, and t = time)

DISCLAIMER: Working theory; not yet peer reviewed.

"Fronds come and go; the spear is life!" - Anonymous Palmtalker

Posted (edited)
  On 11/18/2022 at 6:38 PM, GoatLockerGuns said:

My neighbor's house...I think the dude is tripping if he thinks those planted Foxtail's will survive long term in NW Bexar County.  I am rooting for him though....

 

20221117_173434.jpg

Expand  

Of course they will survive, the local home despot was selling them and the guy he paid to plant them will totally replace them if they die. For a fee.

 

People are planting palms that will not survive, so as a result, they quit growing palms in San Antonio.

 

Edited by amh
  • Like 1
Posted

If I lived in Texas, even if I lived in South Texas where you should be able to get away with growing quite a lot of palm species in a normal winter, I would still plant a good amount of Sabal mexicana since they seemed to have survived the big freeze from what I have been seeing online. They are a large hardy palm, I hope people plant a lot of them around Texas! 

  • Like 5
  • Upvote 2

PalmTreeDude

Posted
  On 11/19/2022 at 4:23 AM, PalmTreeDude said:

If I lived in Texas, even if I lived in South Texas where you should be able to get away with growing quite a lot of palm species in a normal winter, I would still plant a good amount of Sabal mexicana since they seemed to have survived the big freeze from what I have been seeing online. They are a large hardy palm, I hope people plant a lot of them around Texas! 

Expand  

100%, they're even native to the state. It's too bad people don't. They're beautiful and fully hardy here.  

  • Like 1

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Posted
  On 11/22/2022 at 3:10 AM, fr8train said:

It's too bad people don't.

Expand  

More and more are being planted in San Antonio post-2021 freeze in lieu of Washingtonia and other species (mostly mature specimens).  Hard to tell which are Sabal mexicana and which are Sabal palmetto until they produce fruit drupes (at least, hard for me anyway; I use fruit size for more definitive identification).  I have been seeing new Sabal spp. plantings all over the place where other palms died within the last two years.  You can tell the new Sabal spp. plantings by their "hurricane cut" crowns.  There are many Sabal mexicana around though...I have been collecting seed all over the place.

  • Like 2

Unified Theory of Palm Seed Germination

image.png.2a6e16e02a0a8bfb8a478ab737de4bb1.png

(Where: bh = bottom heat, fs = fresh seed, L = love, m = magic, p = patience, and t = time)

DISCLAIMER: Working theory; not yet peer reviewed.

"Fronds come and go; the spear is life!" - Anonymous Palmtalker

Posted (edited)
  On 11/19/2022 at 4:23 AM, PalmTreeDude said:

If I lived in Texas, even if I lived in South Texas where you should be able to get away with growing quite a lot of palm species in a normal winter, I would still plant a good amount of Sabal mexicana since they seemed to have survived the big freeze from what I have been seeing online. They are a large hardy palm, I hope people plant a lot of them around Texas! 

Expand  

They are heavily planted in San Antonio.  Whoever said they aren't is not accurate.  There are a lot of palm trees in San Antonio.  Is it Brownsville or South Florida, no, but there are palm trees in every corner of the city.  Washingtonias, Sabals, Canary island dates, etc. 

Did you see the palmageddon thread where photos have been shown of 60 foot tall W. Robusta survivors in downtown SA?

Edited by NBTX11
  • Upvote 1
Posted (edited)
  On 11/22/2022 at 3:34 AM, NBTX11 said:

They are heavily planted in San Antonio.  Whoever said they aren't is not accurate.  There are a lot of palm trees in San Antonio.  Is it Brownsville or South Florida, no, but there are palm trees in every corner of the city.  Washingtonias, Sabals, Canary island dates, etc. 

Did you see the palmageddon thread where photos have been shown of 60 foot tall W. Robusta survivors in downtown SA?

Expand  

They're there, but there could be way more. Yeah you see them in most of the city, but it's one here and there. It's not like Florida or RGV, like you said. I understand the climate isn't as mild, but it's also not so harsh that it couldn't support more. 

The weird thing is I don't see any palms that can grow outside here when I go to home depot or walmart. Not even generic stuff. I've lived in Florida and Arizona, and aside from there being 10x the palms, you could at least get something at the local big box stores. Here it's nothing, or close to it. 

Maybe it's because I got down here in September, and it's all out of season, idk. 

Edited by fr8train
  • Like 1

sticker.gif?zipcode=78015&template=stick

Posted
  On 11/22/2022 at 5:03 AM, fr8train said:

when I go to home depot or walmart

Expand  

Rainbow Gardens, Millbergers, The Garden Center, African Violets Nursery (Boerne), and a dude in Leon Springs (beside Fralo's Pizza) sell cold hardy palms that grow here (among others).  You can occasionally find some good stuff at Lowes and the like, but they are definitely not my first stop for sure.  You will usually have better luck at the local nurseries than the big box stores.

  On 11/22/2022 at 5:03 AM, fr8train said:

but there could be way more

Expand  

Definitely.  Not everyone is into palms like we are though.  They either do not care about palms, or don't know what can grow (and don't bother researching it).  People plant what they want on their own property; I can respect that.  The die-off from the 2021 freeze didn't help matters either.  If you want to see more palms here, then plant more palms.  I was one of the few people to start growing cold-hardy palms in my neighborhood when I moved here after I retired from the Navy in 2016, and now I see houses up and down the street doing it much more.  Many stop by when I am in the front yard and ask about the ones I am growing (particularly about the ones that survived the 2021 freeze).  Also, I grow a lot of cold hardy palms from seeds, and give seedlings out as presents to friends and co-workers who otherwise would not think to grow/plant them here.  Do all of them plant get planted?  Do all of them survive?  Probably not; but some do...

 

Edit:  I didn't advise that chucklehead to plant Foxtails in his yard BTW...

  • Like 2
  • Upvote 1

Unified Theory of Palm Seed Germination

image.png.2a6e16e02a0a8bfb8a478ab737de4bb1.png

(Where: bh = bottom heat, fs = fresh seed, L = love, m = magic, p = patience, and t = time)

DISCLAIMER: Working theory; not yet peer reviewed.

"Fronds come and go; the spear is life!" - Anonymous Palmtalker

Posted (edited)
  On 11/22/2022 at 5:03 AM, fr8train said:

They're there, but there could be way more. Yeah you see them in most of the city, but it's one here and there. It's not like Florida or RGV, like you said. I understand the climate isn't as mild, but it's also not so harsh that it couldn't support more. 

The weird thing is I don't see any palms that can grow outside here when I go to home depot or walmart. Not even generic stuff. I've lived in Florida and Arizona, and aside from there being 10x the palms, you could at least get something at the local big box stores. Here it's nothing, or close to it. 

Maybe it's because I got down here in September, and it's all out of season, idk. 

Expand  

One other factor, if you just got here.  There used to be a lot of neighborhoods with a lot of tall Robusta.  Not one or twosies, but a lot.  A lot of the thin, thin Robusta were killed in Feb 21.   Prior to 2011, I used to see queen palms fairly common.  Not kidding.  30 years+ of good palm growing weather went down the tubes in one or two nights in Feb 21. 

You're right, there could be so much more though, seeing what actually is hardy here.  Some people just don't like or plant palms. 

Edited by NBTX11
  • Like 1
Posted
  On 11/22/2022 at 5:03 AM, fr8train said:

They're there, but there could be way more. Yeah you see them in most of the city, but it's one here and there. It's not like Florida or RGV, like you said. I understand the climate isn't as mild, but it's also not so harsh that it couldn't support more. 

The weird thing is I don't see any palms that can grow outside here when I go to home depot or walmart. Not even generic stuff. I've lived in Florida and Arizona, and aside from there being 10x the palms, you could at least get something at the local big box stores. Here it's nothing, or close to it. 

Maybe it's because I got down here in September, and it's all out of season, idk. 

Expand  

I couldn't agree more. The big box stores around San Antonio do a piss poor job with palms.  When I lived in Albuquerque you could find a better selection of cold hardy palms than you'll see at my local Lowes or HD!  In fact, any big box store I've been to in New Mexico, Arizona, or Florida stocked several types of palms through the summer. Here I only normally see 3 (not counting tropical palms like Majesty) at the most: Queen Palm, Pygmy Date Palms, and every now and then a couple of Washingtonia.

 

GoatLockerGuns is correct in saying you'll need to go to the local nurseries where you'll have a much better experience. I like Rainbow Gardens and Milbergers. And it's well worth the beautiful drive (via the hill country NOT I-35! LOL) to Austin to visit Barton Springs Nursery. If you're looking for specimen palms there are several outfits along I-35 between Austin and SA. I can't vouch for any of the businesses, but large palms can be found for sale along the way. I think one can find a few large Foxtails there. 😉

-Chris

  • Like 2

-Chris

San Antonio, TX - 2023 designated zone 9A 🐍 🌴🌅

(formerly Albuquerque, NM ☀️ zone 7B for 30 years)

Washingtonia filifera/ Washingtonia robusta/ Syagrus romanzoffiana/ Sabal mexicana/ Dioon edule

2024-2025 - low 23F/ 2023-2024 - low 18F/ 2022-2023 - low 16F/ 2021-2022 - low 21F/ 2020-2021 - low 9F

Posted
  On 11/22/2022 at 12:58 PM, ChrisA said:

I think one can find a few large Foxtails there.

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LOL...That dude's Foxtails are going to survive for years in some freak microclimate, and I am going to be eating crow....

  • Like 3

Unified Theory of Palm Seed Germination

image.png.2a6e16e02a0a8bfb8a478ab737de4bb1.png

(Where: bh = bottom heat, fs = fresh seed, L = love, m = magic, p = patience, and t = time)

DISCLAIMER: Working theory; not yet peer reviewed.

"Fronds come and go; the spear is life!" - Anonymous Palmtalker

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