Update on my coconut palm in Jacksonville and huge new coconut!

May 10

Coconut palm experienced snow flurries and 28 degrees. It has a thin trunk and is 4 1/2 feet tall it grows very fast. In an unheated pop up green house over the winter.. For some reason it’s trunking already! Any tips?

May 10

10 minutes ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

Any tips?

Welcome to PalmTalk! Keep it as warm as you can as long as you can. Some also used C9 Christmas lights for a touch of extra heat under the enclosure.

You should also consider attending the 2025 Summer CFPACS Meeting in St. Augustine to show everyone.

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/88958-central-florida-palm-cycad-society-summer-2025-meeting/

Anyone else interested is also encouraged to attend.

May 10

Looks good considering coconut palms deeply resent temps it's experienced.

May 10

5 hours ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

Any tips?

Once it outgrows your ability to protect it or temps into the mid and lower 20s the palm will be toast. My suggestion...plant a mule palm.

May 10

10 hours ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

Coconut palm experienced snow flurries and 28 degrees. It has a thin trunk and is 4 1/2 feet tall it grows very fast. In an unheated pop up green house over the winter.. For some reason it’s trunking already! Any tips?

great project. keep a close eye on the temperatures/weather, so you can always react and install protection early when it gets to that time of year again, that's what we always do, or try to do as well as possible 😊
it's wonderful that it has already formed a stem.
continued success

May 10

Wow that's awesome you were zone pushing a coconut palm that far north in Florida good luck!

July 28

Sadly my big coconut palms grown 2 inches in a month and a half. The littler coconut has a weird small frawn the big coconut gets full sunlight in the morning and scattered sunlight throughout the day. I fertilized it with fertilizer and saltwater.

July 28

Why even bother? Those will always look ratty in your location. Just plant a beccariophoenix alfredii. Those do way better in Jacksonsville and still resemble a coconut. Although to be honest, your yard doesn't look like it gets an optimal amount of sunlight for a sun-loving palm, so an alfredii might not do the best there either.

July 28

I’ve been growing mangoes and coconuts in Jacksonville for two years and I personally like the look of coconuts better. You can grow whatever you want. And I can too. But you just have to have dedication and lots of work. it gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. And quite frankly, I don’t have to do what everyone else does and neither do you. I think it’s impressive what I am able to grow here in z9a. So I don’t want to hear it.

July 28

2 minutes ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

I’ve been growing mangoes and coconuts in Jacksonville for two years and I personally like the look of coconuts better. You can grow whatever you want. And I can too. But you just have to have dedication and lots of work. it gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. And quite frankly, I don’t have to do what everyone else does and neither do you. I think it’s impressive what I am able to grow here in z9a. So I don’t want to hear it.

You certainly have quite an impressive knowledge base. At the Summer Meeting in St. Augustine, you could definitely hold your own with anyone.

July 29

Thank you

July 29

1 hour ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

I’ve been growing mangoes and coconuts in Jacksonville for two years and I personally like the look of coconuts better. You can grow whatever you want. And I can too. But you just have to have dedication and lots of work. it gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. And quite frankly, I don’t have to do what everyone else does and neither do you. I think it’s impressive what I am able to grow here in z9a. So I don’t want to hear it.

😂 This is how you handle comments like that. I used to have neighbors in my old apartment ask me why I had so many palm trees on my patio. Uhhh because I can? And I like them? Keep doing what you do, man.

July 29

2 hours ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

I’ve been growing mangoes and coconuts in Jacksonville for two years and I personally like the look of coconuts better. You can grow whatever you want. And I can too. But you just have to have dedication and lots of work. it gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. And quite frankly, I don’t have to do what everyone else does and neither do you. I think it’s impressive what I am able to grow here in z9a. So I don’t want to hear it.

Since you had 5 posts at the time of my response, I figured you were a newbie. If you're well informed and still want to grow them for fun, more power to you. I'm sure you're aware that they will never look as good as they do in South Florida. I am not a big fan of alfredii either, to be honest, and there aren't many palms that can top a nice coconut palm, to be fair. In that private part of your yard, you could probably provide protection if a bad freeze comes through there in the winter. I want to say there's a poster I've seen on here before who has a coconut in Jacksonville who uses several measures to protect it and it looks fine. I'm sure there's some variety in the microclimates in Jacksonville, though.

July 29

Makes you wonder wants going on underground. Being that it’s such good conditions for coconuts in Jacksonville right now, I bet it is very active underground expanding or replacing damaged roots that the plant needs to support big fronds.

I’m always shocked by how far reaching the coconut roots are even when they’re not super big yet.

July 29

Yeah I think it’s been focusing on its roots. I planted it 1 1/2 months ago and it’s grown 2 inches above ground

July 29

Here is an update

July 29

Nice!!

July 29

Good luck with your coconut. I see a lot of marginally hardy plants in the jax area but cocos are pretty much nonexistent. It’ll be interesting to see how yours develops.

July 31

On 5/10/2025 at 7:28 AM, Scott W said:

Once it outgrows your ability to protect it or temps into the mid and lower 20s the palm will be toast. My suggestion...plant a mule palm.

or even a highland coconut

August 9

On 7/28/2025 at 10:45 PM, FlaPalmLover said:

Since you had 5 posts at the time of my response, I figured you were a newbie. If you're well informed and still want to grow them for fun, more power to you. I'm sure you're aware that they will never look as good as they do in South Florida. I am not a big fan of alfredii either, to be honest, and there aren't many palms that can top a nice coconut palm, to be fair. In that private part of your yard, you could probably provide protection if a bad freeze comes through there in the winter. I want to say there's a poster I've seen on here before who has a coconut in Jacksonville who uses several measures to protect it and it looks fine. I'm sure there's some variety in the microclimates in Jacksonville, though.

Yeah I have it surrounded by four walls and ChatGPT says my area is a microclimate

August 9

2 hours ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

Yeah I have it surrounded by four walls and ChatGPT says my area is a microclimate

Be careful with ChatGPT. I uploaded a landscape map and asked it what to add to the landscape and it told me to consider Cyrtostachys renda. 🤦‍♂️

August 10

Maddox it was great meeting you at the CFPACS meeting in St. Augustine in June. You are starting a great hobby at a young age. You have learned so much already, you will continue to learn as all of us in CFPACS do from each other on this forum and from our visits in each others gardens. It is a pleasure seeing what you are growing. Continue to share what you are growing with us!

August 10

Maddox since you are also interested in tropical fruit, wanted to let you know the mangoes you saw in my garden are all ripening now and quite tasty. They are falling off the tree, we have to go out a few times a day to make sure we pick them up before critters try to get them.

August 12

On 8/9/2025 at 5:53 PM, kinzyjr said:

Be careful with ChatGPT. I uploaded a landscape map and asked it what to add to the landscape and it told me to consider Cyrtostachys renda. 🤦‍♂️

Be careful with ChatGPT. -

Indeed, one must be careful with this.

August 13

On 8/10/2025 at 3:13 PM, Lou-StAugFL said:

Maddox since you are also interested in tropical fruit, wanted to let you know the mangoes you saw in my garden are all ripening now and quite tasty. They are falling off the tree, we have to go out a few times a day to make sure we pick them up before critters try to get them.

Not palm related but since you mention mangoes do you grow those in st augustine? If so… how?? Winters in my backyard can be brutal, I have young mango trees that I do not expect to ever plant 😭. I only see some tropical stuff in coastal st aug.

August 13

@Lou-StAugFL's place was the first stop on the CFPACS Summer Tour. There are a few photos of his place and the other two stops on the meeting thread:

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/88958-central-florida-palm-cycad-society-summer-2025-meeting/

His place is near the water and rarely experiences temperatures below freezing.

August 23

On 8/12/2025 at 10:20 PM, TropicsEnjoyer said:

Not palm related but since you mention mangoes do you grow those in st augustine? If so… how?? Winters in my backyard can be brutal, I have young mango trees that I do not expect to ever plant 😭. I only see some tropical stuff in coastal st aug.

I have mangoes in my backyard it survived the winter

August 23

On 8/9/2025 at 10:53 AM, kinzyjr said:

Be careful with ChatGPT. I uploaded a landscape map and asked it what to add to the landscape and it told me to consider Cyrtostachys renda. 🤦‍♂️

Hey I'm growing one of those here.

I mean, sure it's inside, but I am growing it 😂

August 23

3 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Hey I'm growing one of those here.

I mean, sure it's inside, but I am growing it 😂

I'm curious to know how it does. The house gets pretty cool in the winter. I'm not sure if the soil would get too cold.

August 23

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

I'm curious to know how it does. The house gets pretty cool in the winter. I'm not sure if the soil would get too cold.

It's not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I keep it up against the wall. I also know these are water lovers so I don't empty it's drain tray and I mist it nightly. It gets lots of light too. It's slowly opening up a new leaf. Remind me tomorrow and I'll take a pic for you. It's still just a seedling, but you know how that goes with any palm besides a Washy.

August 25

On 9/5/2025 at 20:34, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

La palmera cocotera sufrió nevadas y 28 grados. Tiene un tronco delgado y mide 1,35 metros de altura; crece muy rápido. En un invernadero emergente sin calefacción durante el invierno... ¡Por alguna razón, ya está creciendo! ¿Algún consejo?

Beautiful palm trees, my friend. Thanks for sharing.🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜💪💪💪💪

September 1

I live in Orange Park (near Jacksonville, Florida). This past winter, temperatures dropped to around 25°F, one of our worst winters.

I had a royal palm, a foxtail palm, Dwarf Green Malayan coconuts, and a Tommy mango.

During this past winter, my royal palm was 95% burnt, to the point that we gave up on it since our HOA was on our case about the "eyesore" (it still had green in the center and no spear pull). It was about 15 feet tall, measured from the tallest frond. The foxtail palm, about the same height but with more trunk, survived the winter and pushed new growth before our HOA complained. The attached photos show the current state of the foxtail. It had minimal protection—maybe a bedsheet around the crown shaft on the coldest days. The coconut palm stayed in the ground all winter. I had two identical coconuts: one died with spear pull, while the other survived, even though both had frost cloths poorly placed on top (the cloths touched the fronds). All these plants were in the ground during the past winter. Now, I’m keeping the surviving coconut in a pot and will store it in the garage when temperatures drop below 40°F. I’ve attached photos of all the mentioned tropicals. I’ve also added bacarriophoenix alfredii, along with Clusia, royal, king, and sugar palm seedlings to my collection. All will remain in pots for the next few years, and likely beyond. Once they start showing trunk (except for the Clusia), I may plant them in the 6-foot-wide alley between my house and my neighbor’s, which blocks the northern wind and benefits from the heat of my brick house.

However, these measures won’t change the fact that once they grow taller than my house, they’ll face temperatures well below 30°F. I still enjoy the challenge and love the tropical look during the summer months. I’ll continue to care for them as much as I can and will update Palm Talk. I love seeing posts like this, knowing others want a similar landscape in this zone. Please keep us updated on your journey—thank you!

September 1

50 minutes ago, trippc said:

I live in Orange Park (near Jacksonville, Florida). This past winter, temperatures dropped to around 25°F, one of our worst winters.

I had a royal palm, a foxtail palm, Dwarf Green Malayan coconuts, and a Tommy mango.

During this past winter, my royal palm was 95% burnt, to the point that we gave up on it since our HOA was on our case about the "eyesore" (it still had green in the center and no spear pull). It was about 15 feet tall, measured from the tallest frond. The foxtail palm, about the same height but with more trunk, survived the winter and pushed new growth before our HOA complained. The attached photos show the current state of the foxtail. It had minimal protection—maybe a bedsheet around the crown shaft on the coldest days. The coconut palm stayed in the ground all winter. I had two identical coconuts: one died with spear pull, while the other survived, even though both had frost cloths poorly placed on top (the cloths touched the fronds). All these plants were in the ground during the past winter. Now, I’m keeping the surviving coconut in a pot and will store it in the garage when temperatures drop below 40°F. I’ve attached photos of all the mentioned tropicals. I’ve also added bacarriophoenix alfredii, along with Clusia, royal, king, and sugar palm seedlings to my collection. All will remain in pots for the next few years, and likely beyond. Once they start showing trunk (except for the Clusia), I may plant them in the 6-foot-wide alley between my house and my neighbor’s, which blocks the northern wind and benefits from the heat of my brick house.

However, these measures won’t change the fact that once they grow taller than my house, they’ll face temperatures well below 30°F. I still enjoy the challenge and love the tropical look during the summer months. I’ll continue to care for them as much as I can and will update Palm Talk. I love seeing posts like this, knowing others want a similar landscape in this zone. Please keep us updated on your journey—thank you!

My lowest temp was 28 f. Lucky for me I haave tall oak trees and my coconut was potted last year. Most the coldest days was lows in the 30s and I had a pop up greenhouse over my coconut. There was a fish tank heater in a bucket which kept it at leaf 5 degrees warmer. There was a day before the 28 f day with snow flurries my heater broke! And I had to wait patiently my coconut was luckily just fine. I don’t think it’s exactly the tempature that affects it. I think it’s the things that happen in that tempature. I also always plant close to walls. I have a 1 year in the ground, Valencia pride mango next to a wall and it’s taller than me. So I feel since the coconut inset tall yet. you probaloy could plant it in the ground Whith a pop up greenhouse against a wall, preferably stone. And Whith a aquarium heat in a bucket you’d be just fine

September 1

First bought it vs now. The palm has grown about 2 feet in the spear and pushed all the ferns out. Thinking about just wrapper the trunk in frost cloth to protect. It is surrounded by 4 walls, oak trees above mulch and Elavated so hopefully that should add some cold protection.

September 6

My coconut palm has grown substantially since i bought it. And is still growing strong.

September 6

October 3

On 8/31/2025 at 10:01 PM, trippc said:

I live in Orange Park (near Jacksonville, Florida). This past winter, temperatures dropped to around 25°F, one of our worst winters.

I had a royal palm, a foxtail palm, Dwarf Green Malayan coconuts, and a Tommy mango.

During this past winter, my royal palm was 95% burnt, to the point that we gave up on it since our HOA was on our case about the "eyesore" (it still had green in the center and no spear pull). It was about 15 feet tall, measured from the tallest frond. The foxtail palm, about the same height but with more trunk, survived the winter and pushed new growth before our HOA complained. The attached photos show the current state of the foxtail. It had minimal protection—maybe a bedsheet around the crown shaft on the coldest days. The coconut palm stayed in the ground all winter. I had two identical coconuts: one died with spear pull, while the other survived, even though both had frost cloths poorly placed on top (the cloths touched the fronds). All these plants were in the ground during the past winter. Now, I’m keeping the surviving coconut in a pot and will store it in the garage when temperatures drop below 40°F. I’ve attached photos of all the mentioned tropicals. I’ve also added bacarriophoenix alfredii, along with Clusia, royal, king, and sugar palm seedlings to my collection. All will remain in pots for the next few years, and likely beyond. Once they start showing trunk (except for the Clusia), I may plant them in the 6-foot-wide alley between my house and my neighbor’s, which blocks the northern wind and benefits from the heat of my brick house.

However, these measures won’t change the fact that once they grow taller than my house, they’ll face temperatures well below 30°F. I still enjoy the challenge and love the tropical look during the summer months. I’ll continue to care for them as much as I can and will update Palm Talk. I love seeing posts like this, knowing others want a similar landscape in this zone. Please keep us updated on your journey—thank you!

What would you say your royal palm and foxtail cold hardiness is based on your area? And what should I do to protect them? (I just bought a couple royals and foxtails). Thank you!

October 3

11 hours ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

What would you say your royal palm and foxtail cold hardiness is based on your area? And what should I do to protect them? (I just bought a couple royals and foxtails). Thank you!

Great question, id say the royal is easily 10a... maybe 9b with very good protection. It survives down to 9a(if its got somewhat of a trunk). But when its below freezing for an extended period, the royal got completely fried. And only the center had green left. I gave up since my hoa was on my butt about "dead trees" in my front yard. So I had to dig it up. But it did survive with very minimal protection, and saw around 28 degree temps. Problem is though, the royal grows very slow and would've taken the whole season just to push one new frond... Unfortunate, I know, I love the royal palm. And this news was a huge bummer. However, the foxtail on the other hand handled mid 20s like a champ. Again, minimum protection, like the roots and heart covered. The foxtail did get fried pretty bad, maybe 80-90% foliage was dead. But it bounced back fast. And now we have 5 soon to be 6 fronds on the Ole girl. That being said, a neighbor of mine down the street, had 2 foxtails that completely died after this winter. I think his problem was that they weren't as mature as my foxtail was, so they may have required more protection. So if you're starting with seedlings, or small palms, my recommendation would be to put it close to a wall that blocks northern wind, and cover it with christmas lights and/or frost cloths when you see freezing temps for more than an hour or so... I have a few small ones(royal, foxtail, and king) that I have in pots, and will bring under my porch once I see temps below 40 degrees. Ill update the forum before and after this cold season. Hopefully I can be of help, good luck! And keep us in the loop please.

Also, I live in orange park, which I believe is more 9a than 9b Unfortunately.. so, if you live closer to the river or coast, you will have much better luck than I did.

October 3

45 minutes ago, trippc said:

Great question, id say the royal is easily 10a... maybe 9b with very good protection. It survives down to 9a(if its got somewhat of a trunk). But when its below freezing for an extended period, the royal got completely fried. And only the center had green left. I gave up since my hoa was on my butt about "dead trees" in my front yard. So I had to dig it up. But it did survive with very minimal protection, and saw around 28 degree temps. Problem is though, the royal grows very slow and would've taken the whole season just to push one new frond... Unfortunate, I know, I love the royal palm. And this news was a huge bummer. However, the foxtail on the other hand handled mid 20s like a champ. Again, minimum protection, like the roots and heart covered. The foxtail did get fried pretty bad, maybe 80-90% foliage was dead. But it bounced back fast. And now we have 5 soon to be 6 fronds on the Ole girl. That being said, a neighbor of mine down the street, had 2 foxtails that completely died after this winter. I think his problem was that they weren't as mature as my foxtail was, so they may have required more protection. So if you're starting with seedlings, or small palms, my recommendation would be to put it close to a wall that blocks northern wind, and cover it with christmas lights and/or frost cloths when you see freezing temps for more than an hour or so... I have a few small ones(royal, foxtail, and king) that I have in pots, and will bring under my porch once I see temps below 40 degrees. Ill update the forum before and after this cold season. Hopefully I can be of help, good luck! And keep us in the loop please.

Also, I live in orange park, which I believe is more 9a than 9b Unfortunately.. so, if you live closer to the river or coast, you will have much better luck than I did.

i Bought a 7 gallon royal from Leonardi's nursery. it's about 9 feet tall. And it's in a 15 gallon now. I have a pop-up greenhouse that could very easily cover all the trunk. I am zone 9b Jax and experienced 28 f. I do live pretty near the river and have lots of oak canopies. so hopefully that should help me

October 3

17 minutes ago, Maddox Gardening-youtube said:

i Bought a 7 gallon royal from Leonardi's nursery. it's about 9 feet tall. And it's in a 15 gallon now. I have a pop-up greenhouse that could very easily cover all the trunk. I am zone 9b Jax and experienced 28 f. I do live pretty near the river and have lots of oak canopies. so hopefully that should help me

If you're on the east side of the river it must be a tad warmer.

WELCOME GUEST

Update on my coconut palm in Jacksonville and huge new coconut!

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