What Palms Could You Grow in Spring Hill, FL?

[Matthew92]

There's a possibility I might move to the Spring Hill area. I would like to see anyone's input on the best palms one can grow here, or maybe someone that lives there/close by. I see according to the new USDA hardiness zone map it's 9b, with a 9a patch close to the eastern side. In 2010 and this most recent freeze there were 9a temps for sure. 

Looking around on Google streetview in Spring Hill, there isn't much variety in the landscape with the most "daring" palms looking to be queens and Phoenix roebelenni. For non palms, I noticed a huge Enterolobium cyclocarpum (ear tree) in one backyard and a few Jacarandas that look to have resprouted into multiple trunks (probably after the 2010 freeze). I also noticed a couple Yellow Poinciana (Peltophorum dubium?) that were large with one showing some twig dieback in April 2011 (after the 2010 freezes). Interestingly, Spring Hill is a little lower latitude than Orlando and yet looks to get colder (probably due to less urban heat effect).

I haven't looked at all the weather station data yet, but from the looks of the vegetation damage, it probably got to the low 20's (deg F) in 2010. With this most recent freeze Feb 2026, I recall from the temperature screenshots mid 20's with maybe some low 20 readings in a few spots. Based on this, I think I have a good idea of what one might be able to grow: however, I'd like to open this up to discussion and it might be fun to theorize what the most exotic palms one could grow here or even with some damage from time to time during a colder winter. If it's ok, might discuss a few non-palms here and there but can keep it more focused on palms since it's in this forum topic.

 

Here's a few streetview screenshots showing the kind of damage seen in spring of 2011 after the 2010 freezes. These following 2 photos were more on the eastern side of Spring Hill. Some queens on the Western side close to US 19 seemed to have almost minimal damage. From most of the later streetview images in the years after, I didn't notice any queens that didn't recover after this damage from the 2010 freezes.

 

Here's a large Yellow Poinciana showing twig dieback in spring of 2011.

And here it is in 2024

 

[SeanK]

No expert here, so just transient observation. When we depart Tarpon Springs for the Great White north of Atlanta, we go north on US19, then east on SR50 or SR52. Once I hook a right, I'm looking at a lot of z8/z9 palms. S.palmetto, S.repens, C.humilis, W.robusta, an occasional Queen palm yes, but not too many. Live oak seems to be the landscape favorite.

Tarpon has z10a plants, but away from the water, it's a different world.

[kinzyjr]

@Matthew92 The area inland is known to be the icebox of the peninsula.  That little blotch where the hardiness zone is lower is supposedly home to a few relic species that need more chill hours than most of the peninsula can provide.  The area near the coast isn't as cold overnight.

Orlando's climate is modified by location (further east and less direct hits from cold fronts), lakes to its west and north that buffer cold snaps, and UHI.  All of it together provides roughly a full hardiness zone difference.

@HudsonBill and @flplantguy can tell you the microclimate differences in the area and opine on what is bulletproof vs. what is worth risking better than I can.  As far as official records go, see attached xlsx file.

20260315_Brooksville_NOAA_Stations.xlsx

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Matthew92 said:

There's a possibility I might move to the Spring Hill area. I would like to see anyone's input on the best palms one can grow here, or maybe someone that lives there/close by. I see according to the new USDA hardiness zone map it's 9b, with a 9a patch close to the eastern side. In 2010 and this most recent freeze there were 9a temps for sure. 

Looking around on Google streetview in Spring Hill, there isn't much variety in the landscape with the most "daring" palms looking to be queens and Phoenix roebelenni. For non palms, I noticed a huge Enterolobium cyclocarpum (ear tree) in one backyard and a few Jacarandas that look to have resprouted into multiple trunks (probably after the 2010 freeze). I also noticed a couple Yellow Poinciana (Peltophorum dubium?) that were large with one showing some twig dieback in April 2011 (after the 2010 freezes). Interestingly, Spring Hill is a little lower latitude than Orlando and yet looks to get colder (probably due to less urban heat effect).

I haven't looked at all the weather station data yet, but from the looks of the vegetation damage, it probably got to the low 20's (deg F) in 2010. With this most recent freeze Feb 2026, I recall from the temperature screenshots mid 20's with maybe some low 20 readings in a few spots. Based on this, I think I have a good idea of what one might be able to grow: however, I'd like to open this up to discussion and it might be fun to theorize what the most exotic palms one could grow here or even with some damage from time to time during a colder winter. If it's ok, might discuss a few non-palms here and there but can keep it more focused on palms since it's in this forum topic.

 

Here's a few streetview screenshots showing the kind of damage seen in spring of 2011 after the 2010 freezes. These following 2 photos were more on the eastern side of Spring Hill. Some queens on the Western side close to US 19 seemed to have almost minimal damage. From most of the later streetview images in the years after, I didn't notice any queens that didn't recover after this damage from the 2010 freezes.

 

Here's a large Yellow Poinciana showing twig dieback in spring of 2011.

And here it is in 2024

 

As far as palms? ..When in the area during daylight hours, lol,  <  i still occasionally flog myself for spending -any- amount of time up there, btw lol >  Sabal were about the only palms i'd see with regularity that looked good.  Remember seeing half dead Washingtonia after the 10 / 11 cold event and all the palms planted in front of my ex gf's parents house ( Located near Weeki Wachee ) fried ( a couple Queens and Pygmys )  Looks like only a single Pindo and Cycas remain in front of that house now.  Pindos at the house across from theirs look dead 'n dying..  Recall seeing  free-form ice sculptures in several yards where irrigation pipes had burst one morning also. 


Yes,  non - palmy tree in question is P. dubium.  10 /11 cold snap ( ...among the other bigger ones since ) would have erased the other Peltophorum sp. 

 

[flplantguy]

You can get away with zone ten plants only south of SR52 and west of little Rd in denser developments. Past that it's a solid zone 9 for long term stuff, especially in the open. Low spots are disasters in radiational freezes, which are more frequent than anywhere else in the area and see thick frost.

Once you go northeast of 52 and Little the area is more 9a, but missing a lot of 9a chill hours (still some though) with temps of 19 happening every few years (lowest spots are far worse). Frost and hard freezes are a certainty in the area of north Pasco away from any wetlands or moisture, the Sandy soil is very dry, depleted of nutrients, and heats rapidly afterwards.  It's a challenge to grow much and keep it happy, but legumes and drought/frost/cold tolerant palms do well if they like humidity. 

If you move to hernando pick a spot high on a hill and closer to the Aripeka area (or on water of course) and you can do more under canopy.  From 52 to Chrystal River near the coast is a more reliable 9b with few 9a or 10a winters. Inland spring Hill and shady hills would be good for lower chill panhandle stuff. If you really want warmer and can go a bit further south, aim for the elfers area just east of 19 on SR54.  Adonidias there were burned but alive this winter, and archontophoenix are easy.

My winter lows near Aripeka Sandhills preserve were:  

2022-2023: Christmas freeze 2 nights 27-30, January 16 31.8 with a 32.2 the day before.  

2023-24: 32.2 advective, rest 10b (El nino)

2024-25: 33 in early December and frost, 26 or 28 January 25 after multiple days at 33

2025-26: 12 freezes (first 2 in mid November), 2 at 29 advective, many 30 to 32 radiational, and the big one was a radiational 24.6 after the second advective 29 (it was 22 inland at st Leo the same night  with wind, so there is some water influence just not nearly as much as a bit south)

Hopefully that info helps, just a stone throw away from me (almost literally, I'm in an odd spot) inland hitting 19 to 22 radiational is a regular occurrence and there are few queens or pygmy dates, and I've seen one small Bismarck.  That area people don't garden at all or use greenhouses for things.  I'm using one for most of my plantings and am transitioning to mostly desert plants in the front yard thats open, they do better (and natives).  A drive down 19 a short distance and most years mangos and similar are fine, this year and 2018 fried the nothernmost openly planted one.  If I had known all this detail before I likely would have pushed for a smaller lot in southwest Pasco to avoid the major dips, but I like my space here too.

[flplantguy]

One last thing, the natives in my yard include pignut hickory and Encyclia tampensis, so it's a fun mix of stuff that doesn't meet up elsewhere. I had a South Florida native bromeliad here too on one tree that bloomed 2 years ago, and an endangered lupine species lives happily.  So there are enough chill hours for that hickory to grow (and turkey oak) but not so cold it kills Encyclia or bromeliads.  winter after a freeze looked like the photo inland where Pinellas county owns land for water.

[Matthew92]

Thank you all for your input. And @kinzyjr thank you for the weather data. Yes @flplantguy I noticed in the streetview images I can see how many plants look sad/struggle in that sandhill environment (actually very similar to my current location in Okaloosa county, one of the reasons being I see sand pine (Pinus clausa) there which the other population exists in my area indicating infertile dry sands). Thankfully over the years I've observed and trialed what trees and plants can tolerate it so I'd be pretty good at selecting what would grow well. 

Despite the "icebox of the peninsula" reputation, it's definitely still a leg-up warmer than my current location in the Panhandle and would be exciting for me. As cold as it can get, the fact that queens survive in Spring Hill somewhat long term (with occasional damage) is a great improvement as that is not possible here. My yard would probably be a mix of more cold hardy stuff (years of researching exotic/tropical looking cold hardy plant material has helped) and towards the more tropical side (with expected cold damage occasionally but things that will still survive in some fashion). I'm weird in that I love northern plants at the same time so in one section of my yard I might plant something like a Quercus falcata, Quercus buckleyi, or Cedrus atlantica.

[Matthew92]

Also something I just remembered in Spring Hill on streetview, (can't find it again now) I had to do a double take as I saw a somewhat dwarfed but healthy flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) in someone's front yard. These are also found in my areas in the sandhill environment as they naturally grow underneath the pines, so I think it's very possible that one I saw could have been a remnant of the original habitat.

Anyway, just geeking out a little bit. Shortly here, I'll be discussing what palms I'd try.

[flplantguy]

I have two Japanese maples that have done ok, the low chill ones. I bet you will be very successful with those plants here, there are dogwoods inland further also. Much of the detail in my post above is for others, I think you will feel comfortable with plants you already have, or camellia, azaleas, tropical bulbs, the hard part is not grabbing the sensitive stuff lol.

As far as palms there are triangles around the area in warmer spots too, and a really nice Bismark on Mariner near Elgin blvd that produces seeds.  A few people were trying foxtails in sheltered areas but they won't last long.  Paurotis palms, Mediterranean stuff in full sun, queens of course, Chinese fan, I bet some Livistona spp and some Braheas would do great too. That's my next try is desert stuff, I just planted some Medemia in my hot spot in front to see how they do (thanks @kinzyjr!) .  It's not like the rest of the peninsula that's for sure.

[HudsonBill]

It all depends exactly where in spring hill. Western spring hill on top of hills there where 2 coconuts for years and there's a 15 to 20ft mango tree that has been untouched for years (untill this year) go inland in spring hill and its very cold spots in the teens and low 20s atleast 3 times in tge last 5 years. There is an insane cold spot that takes up part of spring hill and down into pasco county right to about 52. I live right north of 52 and I can see 29 30 in my yard and drive 1/4 mule away and its 24. Multiple times my yard has been untouched but I drive 1/8 to 1/4 mile away and everything's fried. 

I have coconuts, royals foxtails etc that all survived this past winter but drive 1 mile north of me and pygmy date palms are desd queens severely burnt. 

Basicaly if you like palms avoid spring hill. New port richey has huge old coconuts royals etc it's a very warm spot 

[aztropic]

Always an option...

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[Matthew92]

@aztropic lol!

Looking around more on Google streetview, I've seen that parts of Spring Hill are extremely xeric with some front yards partially open sand, trees (such as camphor, Koelreuteria bipinnata, Acer rubrum) showing signs of what I call "sandhill syndrome" with either stunted height, yellow leaves, or dieback. Some yards had a lot of cacti, Agave, Yucca. 

Here's a couple interesting things I found: 

A nice Phoenix hybrid clump (roebelenni x reclinata?) 

Here it is in 2011 after the freezes. Damage not that bad. This one is located more in the southwest area of Spring Hill which is warmer from what I can tell.

An interesting non-palm find. Nageia nagi

[Matthew92]

For some trees that could tolerate the sandhill conditions and moderate freezes: I would be interested to try:

Acacia: probably many species would do well, but I know farnesiana (now in the genus Vachellia) thrives in sandy conditions, has sufficient cold hardiness, and tolerates FL's rainy season, other potential ones are baileyana, melanoxylon, stenophylla

Arbutus unedo, also cultivar/hybrid 'Marina' (not sure of performance in FL for the latter)

Brachychiton: discolor and rupestris (these are both native to areas of Australia that go through a prominent dry season as well as being documented to survive temps in the low 20's just fine). I'd especially be eager to try B. discolor

Ceiba insignis: white floss silk tree (cold hardy enough?)

xChitalpa (hybrids between Chilopsis and Catalpa)

Chilopsis lineararis?

Eriobotrya deflexa

Geijera parviflora - Australian Willow (cold and drought tolerant but able to tolerate FL summer conditions?)

Leucaena pulverulenta

Osmanthus americanus

Neolitsea sericea

Pittosporum undulatum, angustifolium? (these seem to be used more in the southwest so I'm not sure how they would do in FL, but for cold hardiness and drought tolerance I'm interested)

Quillaja saponaria (another one used more in the southwest so not sure of performance in FL)

Xylosma congestum

[Matthew92]

As far as palms, ones that could tolerate some mid 20's (deg F) and a very occasional 9a freeze in addition to droughty/xeric sandhill conditions: some of my top choices at the moment would be:

Acrocomia totai 'Dade city'

Brahea: armata, clara, moorei

Butia species: less common ones such as yatay, purpurea

Butia/Syagrus/Jubaea hybrids,

Chamaedorea: microspadix, radicalis 

Chrysalidocarpus/Dypsis: decipiens (anyone know which other species in this genera could be hardy to mid 20's or even survive a rare 9a freeze with damage?)

Livistona: australis, decora, mariae, saribus

Lytocaryum hoehnei

Nannorrhops ritchiana

Phoenix: loureiroi, theophrasti, hybrids

Pseudophoenix sargentii (with some protection possibly)

Sabal: causiarum, mauritiiformis, uresana, pumos, yapa (mauritiiformis, pumos, and yapa somewhat marginal)

Syagrus: lesser common species such as amara, kellyana (cold hardy enough?)

Trithrinax acanthocoma, brasiliensis

Ravenea xerophila

 

Anyone know of any other pinnate palms that would be viable options (besides Phoenix)?

[flplantguy]

I'm going to try chrysalidocarpus onilahensis if I get some in my next order. Titan has done very well even small so that's another possibility.  Mine took 24 and multiple freezes this year well and opened a new spear right after like nothing happened. It's still bifid too. Lanceolata is the next closest I have but not a solid 9b palm.  Most of my stuff is "mistakes" lol

[kinzyjr]

45 minutes ago, Matthew92 said:

Anyone know of any other pinnate palms that would be viable options (besides Phoenix)?

Down to ~20F, Arenga engleri often do OK.

[Matthew92]

I'm making a separate thread to discuss the non-palms for climate/conditions such as Spring Hill, FL to keep this thread focused on palms (I realized I might want to post more about them than originally thought)

 

[Eric in Orlando]

Heres a good list of hardy and semi hardy palms for that area. I didn't include any Trachycarpus since they are so nematode sensitive on our poor sandy soil. If you have better soil in partial or light shade you could try them with evenly moist soil.

 

Hardy;

Acoelorrhaphe wrightii

Acrocomia totai

Arenga ryukyuensis

Brahea armata

Brahea brandegeei

Brahea clara

Brahea decumbens

Brahea moorei

Butia eriospatha

Butia odorata (capitata)

Butia paraguayensis

Butia purpurescens

Butia yatay

X Butyagrus nabonnandii

Chamaedorea microspadix

Chamaedorea radicalis

Chamaerops humilis

Chamaerops humilis var. argentea

Copernicia alba

Livistona australis

Livistona chinensis

Livistona decora

Livistona mariae

Livistona nitida

Livistona saribus

Phoenix canariensis

Phoenix dactylifera

Phoenix loureiroi

Phoenix reclinata (hybrids)

Phoenix sylvestris

Phoenix theophrastii

Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Rhapis excelsa

Rhapis humilis

Sabal bermudana

Sabal x brazoriensis

Sabal causiarum

Sabal domingensis

Sabal etonia

Sabal maritima

Sabal mexicana

Sabal miamiensis

Sabal minor

Sabal palmetto

Sabal palmetto

Sabal rosei

Sabal tamaulipensis

Sabal uresana

Serenoa repens

Syagrus romanzoffiana (the robust southern Brazil/Uruguay form)

Washingtonia filifera

Washingtonia robusta

 

 Semi Tender;

Acrocomia aculeata

Acrocomia mexicana

Allagoptera arenaria

Arenga caudata

Arenga engleri

Beccariophoenix alfredii

Bismarckia nobilis

Caryota monostachya

Chuniophoenix hainanensis

Chuniophoenix nana

Lanonia dasyantha

Licuala fordiana

Livistona drudei

Livistona fulva

Livistona jenkinsiana

Livistona lanuginosa

Livistona nasmophila

Livistona rigida

Livistona speciosa

Phoenix reclinata (pure form)

Phoenix roebelenii

Phoenix rupicola

Rhapis multifida

Wallichia oblongifolia (densiflora)

 

[HudsonBill]

Just south of spring hill this am 

[HudsonBill]

Go a little south and west of spring hill and this is what you get.... I need to move about 20 miles away. 

[flplantguy]

My spot is on the western edge of that screenshot above and I had 40 on my station and 37 on a small sensor, a little windshield ice but no frost anywhere.  So 5 months of frost/freeze possible and the others hot essentially.  Just avoid shady hills and it's not as many but they do add up most years.

[Eric in Orlando]

I forgot to add Trithrinax brasiliensis, T. brasiliensis var. acanthocoma and T. campestris.