How Root Hardy is Phoenix Roebelenii?

[NC_Palms]

I am familiar with this palm being able to withstand temperatures down to the mid 20’s, but how does this palm relate to say L. chinensis in terms of root hardiness. Or if I plant this species here, could it grow as a perennial the same way I can grow L. chinensis and rhapis here? 

[Xenon]

Not a chance. Also what you are referring to is bud hardiness, the buds of the palms you refer to being at/below ground level explain their ability to regenerate (L. chinensis itself is also quite bud hardy in general). The buds of pygmy dates are in the air so not very hardy at all, low 20s can kill them. 

[BeyondTheGarden]

I am still searching for some decent and affordable specimens of P reclinata, which is a suckering Phoenix that is hardier, larger, and faster-growing than roebelinii- which roebelnii is typically not suckering, but planted in clusters to appear that way.   I had some reclinata seedlings that got eaten by pests last winter but this is still high on my zone-push list.  

[PalmatierMeg]

Phoenix roebelenii is more of a tropical palm as opposed to other Phoenix species that are desert palms. It originated along the Mekong River. As such it is not as cold hardy and needs more water. You have tailor care of them to meet their differing needs. Do your research to determine what those needs are.

[SeanK]

You could grow it outside near an east facing wall and protect, or pot-plant it. Then just bring it inside Dec-Feb.

This is something you should have in the back yard so neighbors don't know your secrets.

Edited January 9, 2024 by SeanK

[BeyondTheGarden]

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

You could grow it outside near an east facing wall and protect, or pot-plant it. Then just bring it inside Dec-Feb.

This is something you should have in the back yard so neighbors don't know your secrets.

It does work well for many people in pots.  I think @Allen has a nice one, one of our PNW members has a nice one as well but I can't remember who.  It is perhaps my favorite indoor palm.  I have one decent sized specimen; they're slow-growing but look better all the time. 

 

[NC_Palms]

3 hours ago, BeyondTheGarden said:

I am still searching for some decent and affordable specimens of P reclinata, which is a suckering Phoenix that is hardier, larger, and faster-growing than roebelinii- which roebelnii is typically not suckering, but planted in clusters to appear that way.   I had some reclinata seedlings that got eaten by pests last winter but this is still high on my zone-push list.  

Im growing a P reclinata here. Alongside P. sylvestris. 

[BeyondTheGarden]

Nice!  Got a picture?  Did you source it online?

[NC_Palms]

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

You could grow it outside near an east facing wall and protect, or pot-plant it. Then just bring it inside Dec-Feb.

This is something you should have in the back yard so neighbors don't know your secrets.

I have one in my greenhouse, alongside several other tropical plants. Im probably just gonna keep it there for now 

[NC_Palms]

33 minutes ago, BeyondTheGarden said:

Nice!  Got a picture?  Did you source it online?

Yep! got it on ebay. 

[Dwarf Fan]

Every Pygmy Date palm on North Padre Island got fried to death at 20F (I recently dug out an old carcass from Palmageddon’21 for my 70 year old neighbor who wasn’t physically able) I wouldn’t even consider it cold hardy at all. P. reclinata is way hardier even though it took damage it has survived in mainland Corpus for decades and is still growing.

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 1/8/2024 at 8:32 PM, NC_Palms said:

I am familiar with this palm being able to withstand temperatures down to the mid 20’s, but how does this palm relate to say L. chinensis in terms of root hardiness. Or if I plant this species here, could it grow as a perennial the same way I can grow L. chinensis and rhapis here? 

I say plant one and find out first hand with the precautions and warnings indicated here. You may be able to provide some temporary sheltering should the need arise.

[NC_Palms]

On 1/14/2024 at 12:40 PM, Las Palmas Norte said:

I say plant one and find out first hand with the precautions and warnings indicated here. You may be able to provide some temporary sheltering should the need arise.

Honeslty I am debating it. Theyre cheap palms here so if it dies it wont break the bank 

[BeyondTheGarden]

17 hours ago, NC_Palms said:

Honeslty I am debating it. Theyre cheap palms here so if it dies it wont break the bank 

They are a dime a dozen but can you find any, of any size?  The ones they sell at the big box stores are tiny.  

[NC_Palms]

5 hours ago, BeyondTheGarden said:

They are a dime a dozen but can you find any, of any size?  The ones they sell at the big box stores are tiny.  

All the ones they sell here are pretty large. I already have one actually that is pretty large in my greenhouse but im not sure if I want to sacrifice it in the name of zone pushing yet lol

[RFun]

On 1/9/2024 at 12:39 AM, Xenon said:

Not a chance. Also what you are referring to is bud hardiness, the buds of the palms you refer to being at/below ground level explain their ability to regenerate (L. chinensis itself is also quite bud hardy in general). The buds of pygmy dates are in the air so not very hardy at all, low 20s can kill them. 

From what I've seen, anything below around 25 may spell trouble.  I say "may" because there are no guarantees.  But, I'd say not too long of a time spent in the low 20's.  They don't like drying, cold winds either.

Edited January 17, 2024 by RFun

[apriliarider15]

There is a Phoenix theophrasti near downtown Pensacola that has been in the ground for many, many decades. Survived low teens and probably 10F over those years. If you're looking for something similar abit larger, but also more cold tolerant.

[apriliarider15]

Added image

[NC_Palms]

5 hours ago, apriliarider15 said:

There is a Phoenix theophrasti near downtown Pensacola that has been in the ground for many, many decades. Survived low teens and probably 10F over those years. If you're looking for something similar abit larger, but also more cold tolerant.

I love theoprasti! A fellow Palmtalker gave me a few seedlings a few years back and it did well at my old property here. 

...If only I could find more because I would definitely like to grow it again.