Windmill palm winter care in Appalachia region, VA (zone 6b-7a)

[blacksburgpalm]

Hey folks! Long time lurker of the forum and decided that it's about time to contribute some photos of a windmill palm my dad and I planted in 2008/2009( from my recollection) in the Blacksburg, Virginia area.  Also asking for advice since the palm is getting over 10 feet high and my dad's having trouble wrapping it, and would appreciate any advice on the best, most optimal way to keep the palm protected for a few months every winter without breaking the bank or breaking a back .  Photos are provided below from various years. 

We purchased the palm when it may have been about a year old, ( small fronds no trunk) planted it south facing, a couple of feet from the house. The backyard kind of sits in a ditch, so we believe the small hill gives the palm some protection from wind.   The house's elevation sit at about 2,200 ft, and like the region, is known for its unpredictable winters and some wind, given elevation and latitude.  Some years the winters can have bitter cold snaps, some can be mild, and spring can start in February or late April.  I believe we let the palm go unprotected one year and he or she did not do so well. This past winter the palm did well but the frond tips sustained some damage, which we believe was from the wrapping. 

My dad's been in charge of covering it up in the winter, with varied success. He's been asking that I reach out for advice regarding protection since the palm is growing rather large and the frond tips are getting damaged with his wrapping style.  I've provided some photos I was able to find of the palm over the years, and a most recent one from this May, as well as various wrapping styles 

baby photo is from 2014

Bad wrapping one year severely damaged the fronds 

Photo with the green chair is most recent May 2025 

 

 

 

 

 

[SeanK]

Looks great. I believe it will need boxing with supplemental heat. I think @Allen has made videos on this method.

[PAPalmtrees]

Looks good I am in zone 7a South central  Pennsylvania (Ten minutes away from the Maryland border) In the Appalachian Mountains  I grow palms and tropicals I will show you pics to tomorrow. But I would recommend doing is protecting the palm on the coldest nights of the winter there's no need for it to be protected all winter unless that's what your dad wants but that's personally what I would do @Allen Has some great videos on palm protection here's a playlist of all the videos

  

[Allen]

You can try something like this in that zone as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMK6tHrTzgY