Palms in northern Idaho/ Eastern Washington

[Sunandwater]

Anybody seen any or have experience growing any cold hardy palms in this region? Lewiston ID has a January low average of 30F (the same as St George UT where palms are on almost every corner). 

I know the Tri-cities area of WA has similar mild winter lows. Anybody seen any around town?

[Xerarch]

I've wondered the same thing about Lewiston, it has quite a mild climate for it's high latitude and inland location due to it's very low elevation (by western standards).  The maps show it as USDA zone 7b, which means that you might get away with trachycarpus.  Interestingly though, the Wikipedia climate charts lists 12.7 degrees and the mean minimum low for the year, which if accurate would put Lewiston at 8a.

Even with a similar average January low to St. George, there are some important differences between the two.  Of course average highs in St. George are far higher all year, with the January high being 13 degrees higher (42 vs. 55).  That means that what freezes there are, are more brief followed by quickly warming temps.  This leads to less damage overall for the year and faster recovery.  Also the record lows in Lewiston would be catastrophic for any palm, with -23F being the record.  Palms have proven to be quite hardy in St. George even with temps a handful of years ago falling to 0F, many, many palms around town survived anyway, Washingtonia, Phoenix, Brahea, Butia, Trachycarpus, etc survived.

I'll be curious to see if anyone chimes in with some knowledge of palms in that region of Idaho or Washington.  I would think at least Trachycarpus would be worth a try

[96720]

My sister in law lives in Oregon and says there is a house close to her that has the driveway lined with palms she is in Molalla!!!!

[Chester B]

On 11/27/2022 at 6:25 PM, Sunandwater said:

Anybody seen any or have experience growing any cold hardy palms in this region? Lewiston ID has a January low average of 30F (the same as St George UT where palms are on almost every corner). 

I know the Tri-cities area of WA has similar mild winter lows. Anybody seen any around town?

I have never seen any palms in Hood river, which is probably similar.  I do know someone that is trying to grow many of the palms and eucalypts that do well here and has had a lot of losses.

 

14 hours ago, 96720 said:

My sister in law lives in Oregon and says there is a house close to her that has the driveway lined with palms she is in Molalla!!!!

Mollala is 8B and on the western side of the cascades,  about 30 minutes south of me.  No issues with growing many of the cold hardy species there.  99% of the palms you see around here are all Trachycarpus and I'd put money on it thats what they are.