Palms in Cape May New Jersey/NE Zone 8A

[grader]

Hey all, I've seen some comments from past years about palm trees in Cape May New Jersey. As the southernmost part of the state and surrounded by water on three sides,  the beach town has its own unique microclimate. Recently in 2023, the USDA released their new plant hardiness zone map and Cape May Island was bumped up to zone 8a. Some parts of the island (specifically the Point) are even encroaching on 8b! I have definitely seen a few restaurants put out needle palms (I believe) and I saw some shrub-like palm things in peoples yards this spring. But otherwise nothing dramatic. I was just wondering if anyone has had success with planting any palms, and how its gone. Cape may arguably feels relatively lush and verdant compared to the rest of the state, and should technically be able to grow more palms but I don't see them. The Point and conservancy also feel even more lush somewhat with more tropical-looking plants. Has anyone had success in Cape May/Cape May County? Is there anywhere around the island more mature palms can be found? 

[SeanK]

A while back, a guy called the HardyPalmFreak put out some YouTube videos.

[palmofmyhand]

Not sure about the soil conditions but even if they were only able to grow windmill palms up there, I think it would be cool to see them line the streets and beaches. That might be the only palm that would do well up there, I know in Virginia Beach they have sabal palmettos and also have windmills. In Virginia Beach however the sabal palmettos didn’t look as nice as they should because of how cold the climate is. Maybe someone could start a windmill palm initiative up there I mean at least they grow to tall heights and make a statement even if they aren’t the most attractive species out there.

[AlexPalmsman]

On 6/5/2025 at 8:42 PM, SeanK said:

A while back, a guy called the HardyPalmFreak put out some YouTube videos.

If you watch his video, some people in the comments note that all the windmill palms in the area (and I presume any other palm) died in the 2014 freeze.

Protected, I think you could get away with growing a lot. It's just that once every 10 or so years South Jersey will get a crazy cold front that kills anything not hardy enough. There's a reason Sabals didn't make it up there naturally.

 

[cm05]

I haven’t been to Cape May/Wildwood in ages, but there was a very mature Windmill in Trenton that was removed a couple of years ago, unfortunately. It was very much alive when they took it out. Large-ish Needles are also growing out in the open at Millcreek Park in Willingboro. Both are zone 7b.

[SeanK]

I haven't watched any of the South Jersey videos on YouTube. I know there are many from DelMarVa, that are nice to see. Some areas get enough protection from water to moderate the winter temps.

[Chester B]

This person posts palms in NYC and surrounding areas.  

https://www.youtube.com/@ShoeTELEVISION

 

[PAPalmtrees]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:10 PM, palmofmyhand said:

Not sure about the soil conditions but even if they were only able to grow windmill palms up there, I think it would be cool to see them line the streets and beaches. That might be the only palm that would do well up there, I know in Virginia Beach they have sabal palmettos and also have windmills. In Virginia Beach however the sabal palmettos didn’t look as nice as they should because of how cold the climate is. Maybe someone could start a windmill palm initiative up there I mean at least they grow to tall heights and make a statement even if they aren’t the most attractive species out there.

That's not necessarily true there is many very nice Palmettos In Virginia Beach. I'll share some pics. And they are also naturalized all over Virginia Beach

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8443876,-75.9739293,3a,47.6y,23.54h,92.38t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s4zpfAmIkxh3RHOjuz5BioQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-2.3768109427474826%26panoid%3D4zpfAmIkxh3RHOjuz5BioQ%26yaw%3D23.540590708742695!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

  

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8520627,-75.9760202,3a,57.7y,101.02h,97.16t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saakPaq3i7kFS4eZtnlHOCg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-7.157617704193385%26panoid%3DaakPaq3i7kFS4eZtnlHOCg%26yaw%3D101.02155555405918!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

 

some naturalized ones down the street a little bit

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8583753,-75.9779657,3a,44.4y,64.07h,100.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEYn4tXu5lveEguYcARtJhw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-10.972772445888197%26panoid%3DEYn4tXu5lveEguYcARtJhw%26yaw%3D64.06541541193401!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

 

 

jungle golf in virginia beach was one of the first places to plant palmettos  in the 70s And now there is some pretty big naturalized ones there

there's also this palm which i'm not 100% sure what it is people on some of the facebook groups say it could be a Brazoria Or it could just be a plain old palmettos im not  100% sure