Fan Palms for Ohio

[ahmedzairah]

Hello. I have been researching online and here, for information about a large, cold tolerant fan palm, but there has never been any testing in my area or a colder Zone 7a. I am planning to plant a Washington Filifera or Brahea palm tree in my yard. I have a large 6ft Jelly Pindo Palm that survived for 5 years and is still alive, here in North Ohio with absolutely no protection except good placement and sometimes a blanket. What are the chances of a large Palm like Washington Filifera will survive, and hopefully grow to 20-30 ft tall? Do you recommend any other palms that have a better chance of living here other than dwarf small palm trees and the bad looking windmill palms? Thank you.

[PalmatierMeg]

I know of no trunking palm that can survive winter temps in NO OH without a conservatory, serious protection and supplemental heat. But maybe an Ohio PTer has localized info. Your best chance is to try one of the many cultivars of Sabal minor, a (generally) non-trunking fan. It will still need protection and supplemental heat during the depths of winter

[Allen]

You will need to protect trunking palms there.  But you can have a fabulous palm garden if you do it right

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snEl8oAOD10

 

[MarcusH]

I'm straight forward there's no chance a Filifera is going to make it in OH unprotected.  There's a reason why palms don't grow in most places in the U.S. especially over there where you live.  You might get a few years out of a fan palm if you're lucky .If you have the time to protect your palms like Allen does he can guide you through it . He's the right guy for you.  It's not an easy task.  

[Silas_Sancona]

19 hours ago, ahmedzairah said:

Hello. I have been researching online and here, for information about a large, cold tolerant fan palm, but there has never been any testing in my area or a colder Zone 7a. I am planning to plant a Washington Filifera or Brahea palm tree in my yard. I have a large 6ft Jelly Pindo Palm that survived for 5 years and is still alive, here in North Ohio with absolutely no protection except good placement and sometimes a blanket. What are the chances of a large Palm like Washington Filifera will survive, and hopefully grow to 20-30 ft tall? Do you recommend any other palms that have a better chance of living here other than dwarf small palm trees and the bad looking windmill palms? Thank you.

The two highlighted palms are likely a no go, but, it never hurts to try .. That said, would look through the threads created by the PT member below.. Thinking there is at least another Ohio PT member or two growing palms further north. 



 

 

[ahmedzaierah]

What fan palms do you recommend then? I wouldn't see why my Jelly Pindo Palm lives, but these wouldn't except for them being better in a desert climate. My area is warmer than Cincinnati, and has much less deep freezes and cold temperatures than Cincinnati. I have seen palms there.

[Leelanau Palms]

Where do you live?

[SeanK]

On 2/8/2024 at 7:25 PM, ahmedzairah said:

Hello. I have been researching online and here, for information about a large, cold tolerant fan palm, but there has never been any testing in my area or a colder Zone 7a. I am planning to plant a Washington Filifera or Brahea palm tree in my yard. I have a large 6ft Jelly Pindo Palm that survived for 5 years and is still alive, here in North Ohio with absolutely no protection except good placement and sometimes a blanket. What are the chances of a large Palm like Washington Filifera will survive, and hopefully grow to 20-30 ft tall? Do you recommend any other palms that have a better chance of living here other than dwarf small palm trees and the bad looking windmill palms? Thank you.

By "blanket" I assume you mean electric as most jelly palms were killed at 5°F here two winters back. 

[LakeEriePalms]

On 2/8/2024 at 7:25 PM, ahmedzairah said:

Hello. I have been researching online and here, for information about a large, cold tolerant fan palm, but there has never been any testing in my area or a colder Zone 7a. I am planning to plant a Washington Filifera or Brahea palm tree in my yard. I have a large 6ft Jelly Pindo Palm that survived for 5 years and is still alive, here in North Ohio with absolutely no protection except good placement and sometimes a blanket. What are the chances of a large Palm like Washington Filifera will survive, and hopefully grow to 20-30 ft tall? Do you recommend any other palms that have a better chance of living here other than dwarf small palm trees and the bad looking windmill palms? Thank you.

Are you on Lake Erie? Im getting close to 7A and leaving 6B (Moving even closer to the Lake, but as I've read on here a northern 7A is much different than southern 7A) 

[Harry’s Palms]

I will say that folks in those climate zones are dedicated. I don’t think I would be growing palms without a greenhouse if I were in a colder climate. I built a nice one ay my old house and when you entered , it was a completely different climate. I can’t have one at my present house as my back yard is a slope and I can’t practically build one . There are many palms I can grow outdoors and , like others here , I push the limits a bit. Living where it snows or freezes would be quite a bit harder . A greenhouse would be an option and they aren’t that hard to build . In 1996 I built a 12’ x 14’ greenhouse 12’ high for less than 1k and it didn’t take that long . I got the plans out of a Sunset magazine and bought the corrugated lexan UV plastic at HD when they were changing vendors for 50% off. Today it would probably be way more but still worth it.