Rhapis Excelsa in zone 7

[Borosbobo]

Hey!

Anyone has experience in growing a lady palm planted outdoors in zone 7?

Due to not having enough space inside I will plant my Rhapis Excelsa outside. I have experience in protecting not that cold hardy palms in winter with covering and heating. 
 

Few questions I have in mind:

What light requirement does it need?

What temperature can it outstand in winter? Somewhere I read it can stand -7C° 

 

Thanks in advance!

[Dwarf Fan]

Sorry Borosbobo but the University of Florida says it is a 9A Palm.
Rhapis excelsa, the lady palm, is considered cold hardy down to USDA zone 9A (see http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/).

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP501

 

Have you considered a Needle Palm Rhapidophyllum hystrix?

[Harry’s Palms]

They like either shade or filtered sun. I have one that gets a few hours of direct sun and it doesn’t look near as nice as the one in filtered sun/shade. As far as cold hardiness, I can’t say . We get down to upper 30’s f. I have never seen cold damage to mine . I have noticed they like water! Harry

[Keys6505]

I'm in Houston and mine has seen 20° unprotected and been relatively unscathed, BUT it was also back up to 60° within a few days and the ground doesn't freeze here.  I don't think there's any realistic chance in 7a unless you erected a full greenhouse around it.  These have been known to freeze down to the ground in low 20's and grow back from the roots, but again, that's without a ground freeze.  They are also painfully slow to recover so even if it did get knocked down but survived you are probably only looking at a 12" tall plant by the time next winter rolls around.

[Borosbobo]

1 hour ago, Harry’s Palms said:

They like either shade or filtered sun. I have one that gets a few hours of direct sun and it doesn’t look near as nice as the one in filtered sun/shade. As far as cold hardiness, I can’t say . We get down to upper 30’s f. I have never seen cold damage to mine . I have noticed they like water! Harry

Oh wow they are beautiful! Thank you for your answer

[Borosbobo]

37 minutes ago, Keys6505 said:

I'm in Houston and mine has seen 20° unprotected and been relatively unscathed, BUT it was also back up to 60° within a few days and the ground doesn't freeze here.  I don't think there's any realistic chance in 7a unless you erected a full greenhouse around it.  These have been known to freeze down to the ground in low 20's and grow back from the roots, but again, that's without a ground freeze.  They are also painfully slow to recover so even if it did get knocked down but survived you are probably only looking at a 12" tall plant by the time next winter rolls around.

20 sounds good! This winter it went under 20° for like one or two days and the ground didn't really freeze where I live. If the temperature goes under that I will put some heating coat on it and it will hopefully survive it. Thank you for your answer!

[Borosbobo]

7 hours ago, Dwarf Fan said:

Sorry Borosbobo but the University of Florida says it is a 9A Palm.
Rhapis excelsa, the lady palm, is considered cold hardy down to USDA zone 9A (see http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/).

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP501

 

Have you considered a Needle Palm Rhapidophyllum hystrix?

We have a Needle Palm planted outside but thanks for the suggestion. Well I will plant it outside because I don't want to sell it or throw it out and if the weather gets cold hopefully covering and heating it will save it. :)