Brahea berlanderiana one of the most cold hardy trunk forming palms in North America?

[Serrano]

I´ve been reading posts about the recent polar vortex that affected texas and northern Mexico and this reminded me of this palm species (Brahea berlanderiana/ B.dulcis) that grows just across the border in Coahuila. I think this might be the most cold hardy palm in Mexico and maybe one of the most cold hardy in NA  at least for sure is the palm with the coldest natural habitat, but i am only refering to the palm species that grows in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Coahuila and Nuevo León.

Serrania del Burro in Coahuila is their northernmost population, they mostly grow on the eastern side of the mountains growing among oaks and junipers.

Credits: Agua del Oso Safaris & Camp

This is some data i gathered from a meteorological station in this mountains, its only been running a for a few years but at least this location appears to be zone 8  the coldest month mean is 9°C or 48°F and the warmest month is 25°C or 77°F annual precipitation is 935mm or 36.5 in

Table for extreme monthly temperature

This species is also the one that grows at highest altitude that i kwow of, in the Sierra de Zapaliname also in the state of coahuila it reaches 2200 m or 7217 ft above sea level, they basically grow at the same elevation as Douglas firs and Aspen in those mountains.

Palm growing at 7217 ft

https://www.naturalista.mx/observations/78281349

Aspen and Douglas fir growing at the same elevation

https://www.naturalista.mx/observations/136292738

https://www.naturalista.mx/observations/47279273

[Silas_Sancona]

44 minutes ago, Serrano said:

I´ve been reading posts about the recent polar vortex that affected texas and northern Mexico and this reminded me of this palm species (Brahea berlanderiana/ B.dulcis) that grows just across the border in Coahuila. I think this might be the most cold hardy palm in Mexico and maybe one of the most cold hardy in NA  at least for sure is the palm with the coldest natural habitat, but i am only refering to the palm species that grows in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Coahuila and Nuevo León.

Serrania del Burro in Coahuila is their northernmost population, they mostly grow on the eastern side of the mountains growing among oaks and junipers.

Credits: Agua del Oso Safaris & Camp

This is some data i gathered from a meteorological station in this mountains, its only been running a for a few years but at least this location appears to be zone 8  the coldest month mean is 9°C or 48°F and the warmest month is 25°C or 77°F annual precipitation is 935mm or 36.5 in

Table for extreme monthly temperature

This species is also the one that grows at highest altitude that i kwow of, in the Sierra de Zapaliname also in the state of coahuila it reaches 2200 m or 7217 ft above sea level, they basically grow at the same elevation as Douglas firs and Aspen in those mountains.

Palm growing at 7217 ft

https://www.naturalista.mx/observations/78281349

Aspen and Douglas fir growing at the same elevation

https://www.naturalista.mx/observations/136292738

https://www.naturalista.mx/observations/47279273

Excellent habitat shots. The Aspen is a not- so- expected surprise, though it does grow in the mountains of N. Baja as well..   Encounter specimens of Pinus pinceana  ..and / or nelsonii / johannis  in these areas?

[Tom in Tucson]

I hope to one day gain a much better understanding of this genus. The only other genera as confusing to me are Pritchardia, Coccothrinax, and to some extent Sabal. Currently, I'm in favor of not lumping Brahea berlandieri with B. dulcis. Not only is this species as cold hardy as you've described, it also resembles other species that grow in northern Mexico. I'd like to add this species to my collection, and try many more of the species that grow to an equal size for comparison, despite the time needed to help me arrive at one.

Hi 76°, Lo 43°

[Meangreen94z]

Yes, Brahea dulcis, berlandieri, and bella are probably the hardiest Brahea, although from my understanding they’ve tried to group them altogether under dulcis. I think it’s because they grow together in Northern Mexico in Nuevo León and Coahuila and haven’t been well researched.  Those that have seen them in habitat have told me or written that they are distinct from each other. 
 For the last 2-3 years I’ve been seeking out berlandieri and bella, but it seems they were brought into cultivation from seed collected prior to the cartel wars of 15 years ago. There wasn’t a whole lot of interest in them and collecting seed in Nuevo León has become dangerous.

John Fairey Garden has both berlandier and dulcis growing from seed that was collected in the 90’s during the Yuccado Nursery era. They survived two nights of 6°F (-14.5°C ) and over 100 hours straight below freezing . I don’t believe they lost any of their specimen. They are obviously distinct from each other, I’m not sure how berlandieri was grouped in with dulcis.

Brahea dulcis:

 

Brahea berlandieri:

They also grow an extremely silver form of Sabal uresana, which only took tip burn from the 2021. It is also an extremely hardy Mexican palm

 

[Dwarf Fan]

I have read that B. dulcis is one of the few Palms native to South Texas but the literature on this is very scant. But it has been a species of interest to me because of it being Native and hardy to the Texas region and growing conditions.

Thanks for the descriptions with pics  Meangreen when I visited John Fairey Garden the Braheas we not properly labeled and the species IDs were somewhat of a mystery even to the staff.

[teddytn]

This is where seeds should be sourced from responsibly of course, and then tested in more northern areas. Tony Avent has spoken extensively about excursions in Mexico and the southwest U.S. seed collected from a certain species at the bottom of the mountain almost always prove to be less hardy than when collected from specimens at the highest location up the mountain. If in habitat those trunking palms see snow and freezing temps there’s a good possibility they have an even greater cold tolerance then displayed in habitat. @SerranoThank you for sharing!!!

Edited January 20, 2024 by teddytn

[palmnut-fry]

Absolutely fantastic thread for us Braheafiles. I had mentioned the gorgeous San Jose Hesper palm in another thread just last week, too.

This could be a great substitute for Wash. filiferas for some of us more northerly palm nuts but I imagine these grow slow. Absolutely gorgeous form on these ( from the fine pendant leaf tips to the bulbous crown)! Armata blooming habit is beyond belief. Pray for my frost challenged armatas I have wrapped last entire week! Nasty cold rains all next week so I am keeping plastic wrap on crowns until after the deluge ... 

[Leelanau Palms]

Good luck and please share results/pics when you unwrap them!

[Dwarf Fan]

Brahea Dulcis (not my garden) Austin, TX:

 

[palmnut-fry]

On 1/21/2024 at 4:54 AM, Leelanau Palms said:

Good luck and please share results/pics when you unwrap them!

See my thread "Cold but Dry ..."