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Mule palm growth rate

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19 hours ago19 hr

I have very little experience with mules personally, but I have always liked them. I now own two. I have one that I bought last summer at roughly a 3 to 5 gallon size. I grew the other from seed. (It was the only one of 12 seeds I was able to germinate)

Both have grown well in pots and in the ground for me thus far.

Seed grown:

March 2025

June 2026 (bottom right)

Tonight 6 August 2026 (1st pinnate frond)

Mail ordered mule:

September 2025

March 2026

Tonight, 6 August 2026

This mule in the ground is the most marginal palm I have planted in my yard. My area is rated zone 9a. If you ask January 2021, it is an 8a.

I have planted my landscape with the idea that I want my palms to be able to look good down to 20F, and survive 15F. I would like to think I am not being overly cautious or confident. Time will tell, I guess.

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9 hours ago9 hr

Hopefully we have some warm years and they don't go under 20F for you. Mine took a lot of damage under 20F but less UV here for the next day warmup than you.

Here is my Mule Palm playlist of the growth I had, https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpVDrk5W7jTdjQmxI4FEtmI7CrCvNqNKs&si=VFS-i1SLpo1BHruH

TNTropics YouTube Channel- Articles 60+In-ground 7B palms - (Sabal) minor (15+, 3 dwarf), brazoriensis (1) , 'Birmingham' (3), 'Louisiana' (4), palmetto (2), tamaulipensis (1), (Trachycarpus) fortunei (15+), wagnerianus (2+), Rhapidophyllum hystrix (7), Blue Butia odorata (1), Chamaerops humilis (1) +Tons of tropical plants. Recent Yearly Lows 4F, -6F, -1F, 12F, 11F, 18F, 16F, 3F, 3F, 6F, 3F, 1F, 16F, 17F, 6F, 8F

TNTropics Logo.png

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3 hours ago3 hr

15 hours ago, Ben G. said:
I have very little experience with mules personally, but I have always liked them. I now own two. I have one that I bought last summer at roughly a 3 to 5 gallon size. I grew the other from seed. (It was the only one of 12 seeds I was able to germinate)
Both have grown well in pots and in the ground for me thus far.
Seed grown:
March 2025
June 2026 (bottom right)
Tonight 6 August 2026 (1st pinnate frond)
Mail ordered mule:
September 2025
March 2026
Tonight, 6 August 2026
This mule in the ground is the most marginal palm I have planted in my yard. My area is rated zone 9a. If you ask January 2021, it is an 8a.
I have planted my landscape with the idea that I want my palms to be able to look good down to 20F, and survive 15F. I would like to think I am not being overly cautious or confident. Time will tell, I guess.

I'm seeing a similar growth rate. 3 years from seed they're about 5 feet tall. I planted two last year and the other two I left in pots. The ones in ground are about twice the size now. I imagine the third year in the ground being fully established will be the year they explode. Right now I would say my straight Butias are much faster than the mules.

Here are a couple photos, it’s hard to get decent photos as they are surrounded by other plants.