Syagrus romanzoffiana "St. Catarina"

[Peachs]

https://www.palms.de/shop5/?a=990&lang=eng
 

It really supports zone 8b? Minimum temperatures of -8°C, dry cold. Normal is -5°C.

[Tomas]

I do not know about the ultimate hardiness of this variety, but I do not always agree with cold hardiness statments by Thrinax for other palms. 

[Fusca]

7 hours ago, Peachs said:

https://www.palms.de/shop5/?a=990&lang=eng
 

It really supports zone 8b? Minimum temperatures of -8°C, dry cold. Normal is -5°C.

I don't believe that Syagrus romanzoffiana 'Santa Catarina' has been proven to be much more cold hardy than regular varieties.  However I understand that Syagrus romanzoffiana sourced from palms in Uraguay and parts of Argentina are more cold hardy.  As far as growing in zone 8b, there were regular Syagrus romanzoffiana in Austin, Texas and other areas of zone 8b that survived several years and grew to maturity before they finally succumbed to a harsh winter.  I personally had one that survived -7°C (protected) with minimal damage.  I don't know if palms from Uraguay would survive long-term in 8b either.

[Chester B]

I don't think there is a definitive answer on whether this variety is hardier.  I have not seen any evidence to clearly point this fact out.

[Peachs]

Thanks!

[Alberto]

3 hours ago, Fusca said:

I don't believe that Syagrus romanzoffiana 'Santa Catarina' has been proven to be much more cold hardy than regular varieties.  However I understand that Syagrus romanzoffiana sourced from palms in Uraguay and parts of Argentina are more cold hardy.  As far as growing in zone 8b, there were regular Syagrus romanzoffiana in Austin, Texas and other areas of zone 8b that survived several years and grew to maturity before they finally succumbed to a harsh winter.  I personally had one that survived -7°C (protected) with minimal damage.  I don't know if palms from Uraguay would survive long-term in 8b either.

Most of the habitats of the queen palm in Uruguay and Argentina are lowland hot summer regions.  Regions with a fresh summer and with sometimes really cold spells occur in the tablelands of southern Brazil ( parts of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná)

[Fusca]

2 hours ago, Alberto said:

Most of the habitats of the queen palm in Uruguay and Argentina are lowland hot summer regions.  Regions with a fresh summer and with sometimes really cold spells occur in the tablelands of southern Brazil ( parts of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná)

That's interesting Alberto.  So you think that RS gets more extreme winter low temperatures than the lowland regions of Uraguay and Argentina?  I have always read here that the most cold hardy queens were ones from Uraguay.

Edited June 14, 2023 by Fusca

[Bigfish]

On 6/13/2023 at 6:57 PM, Alberto said:

Most of the habitats of the queen palm in Uruguay and Argentina are lowland hot summer regions.  Regions with a fresh summer and with sometimes really cold spells occur in the tablelands of southern Brazil ( parts of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná)

@Tom GAgrew a Queen Palm from Uruguay in St. Mary’s, GA (zone 8b/9a) for many years (it’s still there today after almost 20 years), and it proved to be hardier than others in the area.  Progeny of this palm are growing in Brunswick, GA, and they handled this past winter’s cold snap much better than other Queens in the area.   It’s definitely proven to be a winner!

[Navarro]

El 6/13/2023 a las 13:45, Peach dijo:

https://www.palms.de/shop5/?a=990&lang=eng
 

¿Realmente es compatible con la zona 8b? Temperaturas mínimas de -8°C, frío seco. Lo normal es -5°C.

Compañero ,ese vivero está en Europa?

[Peachs]

4 minutes ago, Navarro said:

Compañero ,ese vivero está en Europa?

Alemania

[Alberto]

There are certainly frigid places in Uruguay in winter, even a lower altitudes. I don' t know well in which habitats Syagrus romanzoffiana grows in Uruguay, but certainly some are "warmer" then the tablelands of southern Brazil.  For example: Lages in Santa Catarina- Brazil is a bit colder then Tacuarembó located in Uruguay, more south

[thyerr01]

@Bigfish Is any seed from these Uruguayan queen palms in Georgia ever available? I've seen several mentions of the original one in St Marys and its definitely one of the more compelling cases of individual hardiness. This the first I've heard of actual progeny from this palm being grown somewhere else in the region.

I'm also hopeful we can use some of the handful of surviving mature queen palms in Houston to select for something that is truly hardy for 9a/8b.

[Bigfish]

On 6/18/2023 at 12:09 PM, thyerr01 said:

@Bigfish Is any seed from these Uruguayan queen palms in Georgia ever available? I've seen several mentions of the original one in St Marys and its definitely one of the more compelling cases of individual hardiness. This the first I've heard of actual progeny from this palm being grown somewhere else in the region.

I'm also hopeful we can use some of the handful of surviving mature queen palms in Houston to select for something that is truly hardy for 9a/8b.

My friend has a couple in his yard in Brunswick, and one of them is flowering for the first time this year.  I don't know if he's going to sell seeds or not.  I have a couple of small ones that are many years away from flowering.