What feather/pinate palms can i grow in zone 8a with moderate protection?

[Denis.green.garden]

I really like the look of feathery palms and i wanted to know which ones i can grow in zone 8a. We rarely get winter that have temperatures below -5°C and it rarely even gets down to -5°C. Last winter was really an exception with -10°C. But as i said: doesn’t really apply to the vast majority of years.

I am willing to provide any kind of protection(even five layers or insulation) but i want to avoid heating caples as much as possible for multiple reasons). 

i already bought a Canary island date palm but there fronds are pretty slim and thick. 
i miss the look of something like a Areca palm or a cat palm.

[ahosey01]

  On 5/19/2024 at 9:58 AM, Denis.green.garden said:

I really like the look of feathery palms and i wanted to know which ones i can grow in zone 8a. We rarely get winter that have temperatures below -5°C and it rarely even gets down to -5°C. Last winter was really an exception with -10°C. But as i said: doesn’t really apply to the vast majority of years.

I am willing to provide any kind of protection(even five layers or insulation) but i want to avoid heating caples as much as possible for multiple reasons). 

i already bought a Canary island date palm but there fronds are pretty slim and thick. 
i miss the look of something like a Areca palm or a cat palm.

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Butia odorata, Butia eriospatha, Phoenix theophrasti if it's dry.

Be advised none of these are particularly "feathery" lol

[N8ALLRIGHT]

If you miss your cat palms. Look into Chamaedorea radicalis. Tough as nails, probably on par with butia and phoenix. Likes sun or shade. And fairly feathery, the dwarf non trunking variant is tougher but short, also check into Chamaedorea microspadix. Good luck 

[Ben G.]

  On 5/19/2024 at 12:51 PM, N8ALLRIGHT said:

If you miss your cat palms. Look into Chamaedorea radicalis. Tough as nails, probably on par with butia and phoenix. Likes sun or shade. And fairly feathery, the dwarf non trunking variant is tougher but short, also check into Chamaedorea microspadix. Good luck 

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I second these comments. C. radicalis aren't particularly large or showy, but they look quite delicate and tropical.

Since the garden in question is in Germany, I could imagine planting a number of C. radicalis under larger palms and plants like trachycarpus and Musa basjoo. That would create a nice tropical look.

[Denis.green.garden]

  On 5/19/2024 at 3:46 PM, Ben G. said:

I second these comments. C. radicalis aren't particularly large or showy, but they look quite delicate and tropical.

Since the garden in question is in Germany, I could imagine planting a number of C. radicalis under larger palms and plants like trachycarpus and Musa basjoo. That would create a nice tropical look.

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That actually is a really good idea. Thanks! 
I already have both musa basjoo and Trach. Fortunei

Only issue is that I can only find exemplars of C. Elegans 

 

[Denis.green.garden]

  On 5/19/2024 at 12:51 PM, N8ALLRIGHT said:

If you miss your cat palms. Look into Chamaedorea radicalis. Tough as nails, probably on par with butia and phoenix. Likes sun or shade. And fairly feathery, the dwarf non trunking variant is tougher but short, also check into Chamaedorea microspadix. Good luck 

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I already thought about them but i can’t seem to find them anywhere online ( at least not on trustworthy looking websites). And Any plant or big box stores only appear to sell the elegans varietie.

[Ben G.]

  On 5/19/2024 at 4:23 PM, Denis.green.garden said:

That actually is a really good idea. Thanks! 
I already have both musa basjoo and Trach. Fortunei

Only issue is that I can only find exemplars of C. Elegans 

 

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C. radicalis can be hard to find, but seeds aren't as hard to find as mature plants. Since they aren't large palms when full grown, they don't take a long time to reach full size.

I wouldn't call them fast growers, but they are fast enough that growing them from seed won't take years to get a mature plant.

I got mine as a seedling and it think it was full grown within a couple of years for sure.

[WSimpson]

Butia ordorata works in my great microclimate with no protection . And to its left  is a Chamaerops humilus and a Cerifera although they aren't pinnate  . 

Will

 

 

[Denis.green.garden]

  On 5/19/2024 at 5:50 PM, WSimpson said:

Butia ordorata works in my great microclimate with no protection . And to its left  is a Chamaerops humilus and a Cerifera although they aren't pinnate  . 

Will

 

 

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I tend to stay from butias tho because they are not really the fastest growers

: /

[Denis.green.garden]

  On 5/19/2024 at 5:19 PM, Ben G. said:

C. radicalis can be hard to find, but seeds aren't as hard to find as mature plants. Since they aren't large palms when full grown, they don't take a long time to reach full size.

I wouldn't call them fast growers, but they are fast enough that growing them from seed won't take years to get a mature plant.

I got mine as a seedling and it think it was full grown within a couple of years for sure.

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Okay that’s good to know! I always heard they were super slow growers. And while I probably I won’t stay here long enough to see them reach maturity, i just know my parents will love them when they do

[Ben G.]

  On 5/19/2024 at 7:04 PM, Denis.green.garden said:

Okay that’s good to know! I always heard they were super slow growers. And while I probably I won’t stay here long enough to see them reach maturity, i just know my parents will love them when they do

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This is a picture from the davesgarden website showing the look I want to have with C. radicalis. I think they look best in shade as an understory to other trees or palms.

[Sabal_Louisiana]

Mules. No doubt. But they will still show some cold damage. Hardier than Queens, less hardy than Butias.

8a would be be the coldest zone at which they would probably be successful.

[WSimpson]

  On 5/19/2024 at 6:41 PM, Denis.green.garden said:

I tend to stay from butias tho because they are not really the fastest growers

: /

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Mine has only been in that spot as a relatively small palm for 11 summers . Here it is on  April 9th 2013 .

 

 

Chammy to the left . It grew way faster than the Chammy .