Palm High Wind Tolerance

[JLM]

We all know that some palm trees can withstand extremely high winds, like most of the Sabal palmetto in Mexico Beach, FL surviving Hurricane Michael in 2018. Lots of palms also survived Hurricane Ian in the Fort Myers area in 2022, but a lot didnt. The difference between these regions and how many palms survived is that theres a lot more variety of palms in Fort Myers than there is in Mexico Beach which was primarily S. palmetto with some washies and CIDP thrown into the mix. 

With all that being said, what is YOUR experience with palms in high winds? 

Here is a video of a gigantic Bismarckia nobilis getting uprooted in St Kitts in the Lesser Antilles (Caribbean) from Tropical Storm Ernesto (RIP the palm and especially those cars 😬):
 

 

[Hurricanepalms]

Dictyosperma Album has to be one of the best for wind resistance. Not only will it take a beating, but afterwards it looks like almost nothing happened. Quite a number of palms can withstand the winds, but I can’t think of one that looks so good afterwards. 

[flplantguy]

A tropical storm knocked down a bismark. That seals it no bismarks for me😔. They look amazing but its not worth it and here i have a few other options with neat blueish colors.  A lot of the subtropical types seem less able but chrysalidocarpus are from a vulnerable area too so its a great question im interested in too.

[MJSanDiego]

Chamaerops Humilis. Simply indestructible.

[PalmatierMeg]

The following palms took on Hurricane Ian in our yard with little to no damage

Sabal spp

Coccothrinax spp

Roystonea regia

Hyophorbe lagencaulis

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii

Ravenea rivularis - took some frond damage but otherwise stood tall

Latania loddigesii

Latania lontaroides

Dictyosperma album

Serenoa repens

Cocos nucifera

Copernicia spp

 

Here are palms to avoid if a major hurricane may rattle your world:

Bismarckia, Syagrus spp, Attalea spp (only A phalerata survived Ian), Chrysalidocarpus pembanus,  Becarriophoenix alfredii & spp (the trunk is ripped off the growing plate - instant death), Elaeis guineensis

 

[Harry’s Palms]

We don’t typically get hurricanes but we get hurricane force winds , mainly from the east (offshore) in fall through winter. Recorded gusts well over 70mph with sustained 50mph . They can last 3 days or more and destroy gardens that have been cared for all year. Most of my palms do ok but the Caryota’s look bad after the event. The humidity drops and temps climb as the high pressure sets in and palms hate that. Most of the palms that are not protected by the house are tolerant of these hot , dry winds . Brahea , Butia , Sabal , Livistona , Washingtonia , even the King and Queen palms survive with minimal damage. Harry

[ZPalms]

I second Ravenea rivularis! Saw a video a while back of one planted on a beach in the middle of a hurricane, leaves damaged but still standing straight 😍