Miniature date palm

[ctimgo]

Is my miniature date palm dead?  I'm in conway sc and we have had an unusually cold winter so far. Many nights in the 20s and I didn't cover them. For some reason I bought these thinking they were cold hardy. Thanks and don't beat me up to bad.   Tim

[Fusca]

9 minutes ago, ctimgo said:

Is my miniature date palm dead?  I'm in conway sc and we have had an unusually cold winter so far. Many nights in the 20s and I didn't cover them. For some reason I bought these thinking they were cold hardy. Thanks and don't beat me up to bad.   Tim

Hi Tim, photos definitely help with such questions.  Is your Phoenix roebelenii palm in a container or in the ground?  Is there any green left on the palm?  If you tug lightly on the center spear does it pull out?  They are cold hardy but the fronds will start to show damage in the mid 20's F but the bud is hardier than that.  I had one in the ground turn almost completely brown after 20°F but it recovered because we warmed up pretty quickly after the bad freeze.  I'm in deep south Texas and mine spear-pulled at 27°F last winter because the newest growth was still very tender.

[ctimgo]

Sorry, forgot to post the picture.  Here it is. Thanks again. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

YIKES !!!

[Fusca]

10 minutes ago, ctimgo said:

Sorry, forgot to post the picture.  Here it is. Thanks again. 

Yes, it looks pretty bad but don't give up on them yet.  Check the spears to see if they pull out easily.  Being in a pot exposes it to more cold than in the ground so not surprising that it looks like this even if your temps have only bottomed out at 25°F.  Keep it well watered like it's still alive (these guys love water) and come spring it might start pushing growth.  I would still bring it inside your garage or provide some other protection on the worst nights.  Unfortunately since they're almost always planted as multiples each palm is competing for water and nutrients with the others in the pot.  If only one of the 3 (or 4?) survives it wouldn't be a bad thing.

[Subtropical LIS]

I would agree with Fusca...if there is no spear pull you might be ok. 

Here in Florida they are planted all the way up to the Jacksonville beach towns (zone 9a). They are native to hot and wet tropical areas (northern Laos/northern Vietnam...etc). I would bring in covered area on nights below 32 F...but when it warms up (I know Myrtle Beach can see 70's F in winter ) put outside and water. Maybe a shot of copper fungicide in the spear might be a good idea.  Once the hot and wet weather comes back in Myrtle Beach in April, they should really start to come back fast. 

Earth Works in Jax beach sells them a great deal. Check their site, they have alot of info on them:

 

[Annoynmouse]

i just got seed for them, hope they'll cope in southern Vic 

[PalmatierMeg]

Looks like you have two solitary pygmy date palms - they don’t cluster - and both are dead, from cold exposure, lack of water, nutrient deficiency or all of the above. But they are easy to replace and inexpensive. In the future figure on protecting them during cold spells into the low-mid 20s. Take their pots indoors. SC gets too cold for them.