Bluffton, SC Bismarckia

[NC_Palms]

It’s still here after several years. First noticed it when I lived down there in 2019/2020 and it’s doing well.

This is the northernmost bizzie I have ever came across and the only one I have seen this far north. This is in the west side of Bluffton, by the university. Near the Jasper County line. 

First photo was taken a few days ago, second photo was several years ago. 

[SeanK]

Are there any out on HHI? It must be a degree or two warmer there in the winter.

[Chester B]

I have a Bizzie they grow extremely fast, that's almost no growth.  Mine has that much growth in 1 year.  

Perhaps the first palm and the second one are not actually the same plant.

[Fusca]

23 minutes ago, Chester B said:

I have a Bizzie they grow extremely fast, that's almost no growth.  Mine has that much growth in 1 year.  

Perhaps the first palm and the second one are not actually the same plant.

They're fast given the right conditions and proper care.  Here's two of mine - first one was planted in 2019 from a 14-gal purchased from Lowe's.  Second one was a recently germinated strap-leaf seedling at the same time.  I planted it in an area of the property with better draining soil in 2022 just going palmate.  I took these photos just before sunset on the same day and they're virtually the same size!  They're both in full all day sun and the older one hasn't gained any height since planting although it's pushing new growth.  I keep waiting for it to take off but it's reluctant to do so in spite of being fertilized more than the younger one!  It suffered through 22°F in 2021 and two years of neglect before I moved here.  The younger one suffered through a spear-pull this past January but it's taken off since.

[Robbertico18]

I’ve seen a few down in Brunswick GA, but they never seem to be super happy

[NC_Palms]

On 10/9/2025 at 6:10 AM, SeanK said:

Are there any out on HHI? It must be a degree or two warmer there in the winter.

I have never came across any but there’s a few pgymy dates. Not sure how they compare in terms of cold hardiness tho.

 

[NC_Palms]

On 10/9/2025 at 12:57 PM, Fusca said:

They're fast given the right conditions and proper care.  Here's two of mine - first one was planted in 2019 from a 14-gal purchased from Lowe's.  Second one was a recently germinated strap-leaf seedling at the same time.  I planted it in an area of the property with better draining soil in 2022 just going palmate.  I took these photos just before sunset on the same day and they're virtually the same size!  They're both in full all day sun and the older one hasn't gained any height since planting although it's pushing new growth.  I keep waiting for it to take off but it's reluctant to do so in spite of being fertilized more than the younger one!  It suffered through 22°F in 2021 and two years of neglect before I moved here.  The younger one suffered through a spear-pull this past January but it's taken off since.

I’m thinking that under the right conditions, they’re fast growing but in marginal areas like in Bluffton, they tend to grow slower? This is assuming it has been hit with cold damage, which I am sure was possible in the past few years, although these past few winters have leaned on the warmer end.

 

And i think for these palms, at least in my experience, is that their roots grow faster than the leaves. At least this is how mine behaves. 

[Gitano Iwan]

On 10/12/2025 at 1:06 PM, Robbertico18 said:

I’ve seen a few down in Brunswick GA, but they never seem to be super happy

Isn't Brunswick subtropical? At least a kind of subtropical climate (warm long summers and mild short winters)

[NC_Palms]

1 hour ago, Gitano Iwan said:

Isn't Brunswick subtropical? At least a kind of subtropical climate (warm long summers and mild short winters)

How we define subtropical is going to be really really subjective since we could argue everything up the coast is subtropical to the Chesapeake Bay. 

But Brunswick probably has a climate similar to Nassau County. But there is a huge difference in plants I have seen grown in Florida that I rarely see in Southeast Georgia. Either it is too cold or nobody has tried to plant them. 

And then there’s a few warm microclimates in JAX with royal palms and that would be completely unheard of in Georgia. It’s kinda insane imo.

Speaking of zones, most of coastal GA sits in zone 9a with the islands being 9b.  And this includes the SC Lowcountry as well. West Bluffton is zone 9a but HHI and the eastern half of the town is probably zone 9b. From St. john County and south it’s probably the start of zone 10a at this point (based on what I see growing in St Aug). And then JAX has its diverse set of microclimate and zones depending on where in the city you’re in. 

[Robbertico18]

Oddly enough, spotted another freshly planted bizzy while driving around Brunswick today. Couldn’t snap a pic tho

[Gitano Iwan]

20 hours ago, NC_Palms said:

How we define subtropical is going to be really really subjective since we could argue everything up the coast is subtropical to the Chesapeake Bay. 

But Brunswick probably has a climate similar to Nassau County. But there is a huge difference in plants I have seen grown in Florida that I rarely see in Southeast Georgia. Either it is too cold or nobody has tried to plant them. 

And then there’s a few warm microclimates in JAX with royal palms and that would be completely unheard of in Georgia. It’s kinda insane imo.

Speaking of zones, most of coastal GA sits in zone 9a with the islands being 9b.  And this includes the SC Lowcountry as well. West Bluffton is zone 9a but HHI and the eastern half of the town is probably zone 9b. From St. john County and south it’s probably the start of zone 10a at this point (based on what I see growing in St Aug). And then JAX has its diverse set of microclimate and zones depending on where in the city you’re in. 

If I look at the latitude of Brunswick they're at the same latitude as southern Marroco and that is Subtropical,  but that is like USDA zones 11/12 the America's is much cooler than Europe and Northern Africa, strange how it is that much of a different. 

[Hu Palmeras]

There's a Bismarckia palm here in Chile, already grown. It's in central Chile. Very few people in Chile have this luxurious palm tree, including me. I've already germinated them.

[Gitano Iwan]

1 minute ago, Hu Palmeras said:

There's a Bismarckia palm here in Chile, already grown. It's in central Chile. Very few people in Chile have this luxurious palm tree, including me. I've already germinated them.

I like them a lot, but there is no place for a Bismarckia in my garden! They get very very big.

[Hu Palmeras]

There are some that grow with a thin trunk. You must buy three of them, and then choose which one you will put in your home. Don't miss out on this luxury. This luxury is found in the best places and locations in the world, even in the most luxurious hotels in Dubai.

[Bkue]

A bit of a juxtaposition if you ask me. I have 2 in a reasonable climate. One is open sun and well looked after. The other tucked in a darkish corner and not as well treated. Let’s call it the step child. One’s growth is astonishing the other languishing but growth none the less. In your situation, open sun means more growth but more exposure. The latter likely to be its demise. Decisions have consequences. There is a reason you don’t see others around you.