High Desert Zone 8a

[flypower191]

Wanted to share a couple pics of my palms growing in an exposed valley with an elevation of 4000 ft in Southern Arizona Zone 8a where temps usually go down to 13F every year.  The Butia and Uresana have been growing 6+ years with no protection and very little to no irrigation. The Sabal Mexicana was a gift from Dyers Nursery in Weslaco, TX and has grown 4 new fronds this year alone. The “weeds” are purposely left around the trunks to provide a living mulch and shade in the extreme heat. Pictured in order is a Butia, Med fan palm, Sabal Mexicana, Sabal Uresana, Washingtonia Filibusta, Phoenix Dactylifera, and a bonus Loqaut.

[Meangreen94z]

Very nice 

[jwitt]

Nice!  Several of those plants are not really doable in a zone 8a outside high elevation SW US. 

I am most impressed with the loquat, I was unaware they liked that much sun. Do you see leaf damage on ii from cold or sun?

[flypower191]

@jwitt The loquat has only had tip burn on the coldest years but besides that it seems hail and strong winds cause more damage.

[Gitano Iwan]

I believe the winters are dry isn't it? Where I lived before was a 8a but it was raining during the day and freezes during the night, that makes a hell of a different. 

[KPoff]

Everything looks really good! The nice thing about Arizona even in an 8A zone is polar vortexes don’t make it that far west. I live in 8A west Texas and we are very susceptible to polar vortexes. All of those I have to grow in protected microclimates. I’m only brave enough to try med fans, sabals, trachys and needles.

[SailorBold]

Whereabouts are you if you dont mind me asking?

[Gitano Iwan]

30 minutes ago, SailorBold said:

Whereabouts are you if you dont mind me asking?

I don't know you ask me but I moved from Holland(8a) to Central Portugal(9b/10a) way way better for palms here hahaha

[flypower191]

7 hours ago, SailorBold said:

Whereabouts are you if you dont mind me asking?

Southeastern AZ near Sierra Vista