Mediterranean Fan Palm in West Texas

[KPoff]

Hello, 

I just joined this group today but have got a lot of great information from here and I appreciate it. I live in the Big Spring/Midland/Odessa area and we are a solid 8A. I bought and planted a few Mediterranean fan palms (green) from a local nursery. They were in 15 gallon pots so they are decent size. Some nurseries rate these at 7b some 8a and I’m sure everyone here is aware of these cold hardiness. I planted these on the south side of my house in early April. Big Spring winters are extremely variable however usually very dry. It usually will get to 10 F or lower at least once/twice in a winter and may not get about above freezing during the day. 2 days later it could 70 F in the day and 45 at night. So my question here is really when and how much should I protect these out here. I appreciate the feedback.

[PalmatierMeg]

We need photos

Welcome to PalmTalk

[KPoff]

@PalmatierMeg, Sorry here is a picture of location. The two in the middle are needle palms

[PalmatierMeg]

What are the measurements of your garden plot? Those palms strike me as too close to the house and eve. Anyone else have thoughts about this placement? When you plant itty bitty juvenile palms everything looks so neat and tidy. But palms grow, even Chamaerops and Rhapidophyllum. Both species also cluster and spread in all directions. Their clumps can get enormous. What I've done with my Chamaerops (I failed at growing needle palms) is get a set of different sized sharp chisels, a mallet and leather gloves from Harbor Freight. Then I extract any offsets from the base of the mother palm by hammering the chisel into the offset at the base of the mother until I can extract it from the ground. A lot of occasionally bloody work despite the gloves but you can do something to keep the clump from getting away from you, at least until it gets tall enough to reach the eve.

[KPoff]

@PalmatierMeg I plan on trimming them as needed. Probably I won’t live in the house by the time they get real big. I can trim them close to the house and let them go sideways. I’m really more curious about everyone’s experience with cold hardiness and protection of the med palms specifically in our winter in west Texas which is extremely variable. The needle palms should be good.

[Silas_Sancona]

Imo, placement looks good to me...  See Med Fans planted up close to houses here all the time.. 


Yes, they will fill in as they get larger but, because they are clumpers, you can remove any trunks you don't want as they grow.  Don't have to allow them to become large clumps with 8+ trunks..

Trunks you leave will bend out away from the wall / roofline as they grow as well. 

Needles will clump ..and take a long time to grow to a size where they're  anywhere close to a concern.

As far as hardiness, Med fans are pretty tough. Don't know your area but, if you're fairly dry during the winters like we are most of the time, you may not have too many issues w/ normal cold ( hard for frost to form in really dry air )  ..only having to consider protecting during the worst  of potential cold spells you might see.

If planted on the south wall of your home, that too will help block cold northerly winds / retain warmth on warm days thru the winter. 

[Fusca]

Yes, I think the placement is OK with your plan.  It's pretty typical for tall Chamaerops to lean some.  As far as cold hardiness I can only give you advice based on my experience in more humid areas.  I had a fairly large bushy green form near a south facing wall in San Antonio.  The only time I saw ultimate lows below 20°F was in the historic freeze of 2021 where we saw consecutive nights of 9° and 13° with some snow and freezing rain.  I don't think that is something you have to worry about but on the safe side I would protect as @Silas_Sancona suggested on the worst nights.  I didn't protect my palm and it survived but lost a couple of large trunks.  The blue/silver form (var. argentea) is even hardier.  Looks good!

[KPoff]

@Silas_Sancona I live in 8a in the Midland/Big Spring, TX area. @Fusca thanks for the feedback. The sod is a lot greener now. I’m just concerned about the cold nights here in the desert. 95% of our winters don’t get below 20-25 F at night but it’s 5-10 days per winter that are the concern and a lot of those days it will get warm or in the 40s anyways during the day.

[jwitt]

I grow a med palm that is over 7' up against the Southside of my house in central NM.  I am very familiar with your climate.  Mine survived -10f in 2011 unprotected, complete defoliation, and 1 foot trunk lost. Saw zero the following winter. 

I think the best advice I can give is to cut off water in October and start watering again in March. That will slow down any tender new growth that you may otherwise see on that 90f day followed by 10f in mere hours in December.  Below 10f and leaf damage starts.  Our swings are not as large as yours, but ultimate lows are close.  

Use drought and slow it's growing before winter comes.  The placement will also help 

I cannot speak to needle palms.

Welcome to palmtalk 

[KPoff]

@jwitt thanks for the feedback. I go to Pecos, TX a lot and there’s a hotel that has several Mediterranean palms that are very mature and have 5-6’ trunks. I figured if they grew there then I could grow them as well!

[SailorBold]

1 hour ago, KPoff said:

@jwitt thanks for the feedback. I go to Pecos, TX a lot and there’s a hotel that has several Mediterranean palms that are very mature and have 5-6’ trunks. I figured if they grew there then I could grow them as well!

I agree with what everyone is saying here..  the needles may need sun protection..and really do better with shade/ afternoon shade.. I've lost 2 at my house.. same placement as you..

[KPoff]

@SailorBold I considered the placement on the needle palms before planting. I’ve read so much conflicting information not only from people’s own experience but also nursery recommendations and I get everything from full sun is fine to shade is best and somewhere in between. They are in the shade after 3/4 pm in that location. I amended our clay soil heavily with cotton burr compost and sand for drainage. I also added mycorrhizal fungi in with the soil mixture to help the roots get established. So far after a month in the ground and seeing multiple 100 F days I don’t see any leaf burn and they look as healthy as when they came out of the pots. Fingers crossed on those. I also planted one in another location that receives spotty sunlight due to being under a large red oak. We’ll see which ones do better. It will be a good experiment. If the ones in full shade kick the bucket then I’ll plant dwarf palmetto in their place or possibly two more Mediterraneans assuming the others survive their first winter.

[Swolte]

Hi @KPoff, welcome to the forums. I echo a lot of what was said. These are very tough palms, and with the warmer microclimate close to your house, I don't think you'll need to be too concerned about cold. They may defoliate in a cold winter but they should return. If you want to make sure, throw a frost cloth over them when it gets lower than 15F when they are young or when you want them to look good year-round. I have them survive 3F unprotected. Had some concerns this year due to excessive rains (fungal disease) but my largest just started pushing its center frond!

The placement seems OK. I would personally move them further from the house (google: mature Mediterranean fan palm...) but I have seen placements like that often and with no problems. Most palms have more noodle-y roots that won't affect the foundation of the house. My only concern is that some appear quite close to the window. Not sure if you want the light blocked there and having fronds tap on your windows when it gets windy. I guess you can shape growth but it may butcher the appearance of the palm a bit. 

[KPoff]

@Swolte thanks for the feedback on placement. I had done some reading on it and decided it wouldn’t be an issue with the foundation. My placement strategy honestly was to put the needles somewhat centered between the Mediterraneans but also straddle the sprinkler heads so they could spray properly on the sod. I really didn’t want to dig up and move sprinkler piping.

[SM458]

I think you will be okay with them. Where I live Rosamond, CA is zone 8A. I get hot summer and cold winters. My Mediterranean fan Palm does fine in winter with no protection. My mom bought it as a small palm in Lowe’s or Home Depot. Size was much like yours. It took some years to reach 5 ft. 

[Fusca]

4 hours ago, KPoff said:

@Swolte thanks for the feedback on placement. I had done some reading on it and decided it wouldn’t be an issue with the foundation. My placement strategy honestly was to put the needles somewhat centered between the Mediterraneans but also straddle the sprinkler heads so they could spray properly on the sod. I really didn’t want to dig up and move sprinkler piping.

I forgot to mention - these palms don't like to be watered in the crown so avoid watering them with sprinklers and just water them at the soil level.