Table of Contents

Best Cold Hardy Palm Trees

Introduction

The following are some of the best options for planting cold hardy palm trees in climates with frosts and winter freezes: They’re not as attractive to the eyes than other palm options out there, but are remarkably cold hardy. The palm should be selected very carefully, because although some of the species can grow even in colder zones, if they are covered with snow during several days it may become difficult to maintain them alive.

Choosing the Right Palm

There are a number of contributing factors that affect your chances when growing cold hardy palms. Only field experiments can determine region compatibility and maintain For your USDA growing zone: Choose a variety that will work. Gating veganism While a more established tree will show better weather resistance as it can be placed in an area protected from the wind. The sap is less important but sure can become yeasty. Yeast eats everything, and while it gets sorted out in beer box after a week or so foraging don’t be lax on cleanliness!

1. Lady Palm

Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) a small shrubby palm; leaves deep green, fan shaped, erect Sago or Segul or Cycas revoluta is an evergreen ornamental pot plant with leathery pinnate dark-green fronds in the family of “Cycadaceae.” Easy to grow indoor and out this shade lover has dark green fan-shaped leaves. Those temperatures are very good, even low as 18 degrees it can suffer a little bit like in mixed shrub border or mainly in shady place.

Common name: Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa

Origins: Southern China, Taiwan

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a–11a
Mature Size: 6–15 feet
Light: Partial, full

2. Puerto Rican Thatch Palm

By contrast, Puerto Rican thatch palm (Coccothrinax alta) can take temperatures down to 28 or even occasionally as low as 30 F without permanent damage. These are a coastal landscape favourite, that does best being happy as a salt-wind plant growing away on the beach side.

Common name: Puerto Rican thatch palm
Mature Size: 12 to 25 feet tall
Maximum Temperature: 28–30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Native to the islands of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands this palm is a tough cookie hardy planted in USDA zones 9-11. Leaves come in three structures, palmate with lobes spreading like fingers from a central point, pinnate the looks of feathers with stems branching out, and costapal mates which pretty much combines both styles.

3. Queen Palm

The Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) with its grey smooth trunk and drooping dark green pinnate leaves is arguably one of the most reputed trees in this category so far. This South American palm species (zones 9b to gardens can be considered hardy USDS through zones USDA 11b) typically grows between feet in height, appreciates full light conditions.

Plant Name: Queen palm
Height: Typically 25–50 feet full grown
Temperatures: Down to 20F

In urban and residential areas, streets are lined with queen palm trees which also grow in yards but it needs to be removed regularly shredded dead fronds so that it would not deficient of nutrition as well the soil should be neutral acid properly drained gone through pruning or even stump grinding. A great choice as well for landscapes in areas where snow doesn’t fall very often due to its attraction and toughness.

4. California Fan Palm

California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) this perennial palm is planted often in southwestern landscapes because it will tolerate to 15-20 degree temperatures. It is cold hardy but young trees will get frost damage- which are the brown leaves in one photo BUT if you trim those damaged fronds it only looks bad for a few weeks. Over the years it has evolved as an invasive species because unlike other palms with a full light conditions preference.

Plant: California fan palm
Height: Grows to 50–65 feet in height at maturity
Temperature: 15 to 20 degrees even.

A native of arid regions, the California fan palm is grown in xeriscape landscapes throughout the Southwestern U.S. and Baja California — from desolate desert gardens to urban oases where its lush appearance adds an a element of tropical paradise with minimal maintenance efforts required. Such palm is one of the favorites because it presents an iconic shape and a very strong presence in a cold environment. Awking an almost natural beauty in any landscape, from urban streetscapes to backyard gardens.

5. Cabbage Palm

Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) — also known as sabal or Sabal Palmetoette in the sun-loving South-eastern United States forests. This is a single-trunked tree with big bold leaves that are sort of the iconic leaf for several South Carolina landscapes which is why it serves as their state tree along with Florida. It survives temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees making it an excellent choice for many locations. In plenty of hurricane classifications, its costapalmate leaves are considered as the additional resistant wind form along with harsh and powerful winds that evolved it.

Common Name: Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto)
Place of Origin: Southern United States
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8b–11
Mature Size: 30–50 feet
Light: Full, partial

It is sun loving to part shade and does well in many soils. Because of the vertical growth that reduces its climb, it is a favorite both at home and in commercial landscape. In addition to the annual trimming of dead fronds from the cabbage palm (with a clean tool whose blades can be sanitized) and regular fertilizing, this stalky palmetto — some consider its foliage “like an ostrich plume” while others say it looks like nothing so much as “a pineapple top”– benefits by looking well-fed all year. Make sure whether it is put one by one or even in bunches, this kind of sapling supplies a impressive sultry elegance for just about any planting alongside effectively inside the coast location each urban as well.

6. Chinese Fan Palm

Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) Among the most cold-hardy of tropicals, Chinese fan palms. The trunk is a brownish-grey and the edges of its crown are very full fan shaped leaves. It is called the fountain palm because its leaves gently arch outward and down in a whorled or spiraled fashion, just like water cascading from a fountain. The foliage is huge, with leaves growing from 2-5 feet across and colored in a range of bluish-green to olive green.

Many in Oklahoma are growing it … Hardy to 20,. Its small size because it is suitable for container culture, as well a rapid to mature tree in the landscape. Your Chinese fan palm grows just slowly during its first decade as a maximum of 6 inches yearly.

Common Name, Origin Local Zones Only (Not Carried Grower to Zone)
Also known as Loewes’s Livistona, Chinese fan palm or fountain Palm are common names for this popular house plant.
Size: Mature 20-30′ tall
Cold Tolerance: Resistance to 20ºF
European Fan Palm
Plant Name: European fan palm
Size: 10–15 feet
Temperature: Such seeds can withstand up to 5 ° C

7. European Fan Palm

European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) — It is native to Europe, but its cold hardiness makes it famous due to being adaptable as far down in temperatures that are only 5 degrees Celsius. The tree, which is a clump-forming plant with multiple trunks radiating from one central spot and large fan-shaped leaves sprouting in bunches. Growing wise its shockingly sloth-like nature, at only a few inches increasingly long makes it perfect for garden landscapes as well potted shrub.

Plant Name: European fan palm
Size: 10–15 feet
Temperature: Survives temperatures as low as 5 degrees Celsius

8. Mexican Fan Palm

Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta): This cold-hardy species makes an excellent houseplant since it can live outside at temperatures of 20 degrees or above. A very large palm variety, with a single trunk reaching up to 40-60 feet crowned by arching fan-shaped leaves which can grow as long as 5 ft. Dead leaves gather in a sort of hula skirt around the trunk, and this should be cut away every so often just to keep it from tipping over. Originating from the deserts of Mexico this palm can get through a drought but will flourish with some water. Full Sun; Well-Drained Land

Name: Mexican fan palm, Washingtonia robusta
Native Range: Deserts of Mexico
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a–11
Mature Size: 40–60 feet
Light: Full
How to Grow Cold Hardy Palms

Tips for Growing Cold Hardy Palms

Your palms may have a few chimera in the cold, but during an infrequent freeze to their climate zone you would be well advised to provide some protection so they can hold on until things warm up. As mentioned above, the palm trees we describe get icy pellets but still hardy, they are damaged to anything below 20 degrees. These tips may help.

Fertilize your tree. A healthier, more robust plant will have a better chance of survival when the cold comes back.

Spread mulch. Trim branches that need to be pruned and apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of cold-prone palm trees. This mulch works to protect the tree roots from becoming frozen. Many trees will survive as long as the roots are alive even though the crown is eaten down to bare sticks

Cover small trees. Wrap your smaller tree in a combination of sheets and blankets fabricated with tarp or plastic sheet on winter to maintain them warm. These types of covers trap warmth from the earth and prevent your tree from freezing. If temperatures are too cold, a light bulb under the cover. Peel them when it is back to normal temperatures.

Apply a freeze-protectant. Killing freeze: this will kill several palm trees. A frost-protecting spray that guards against plant-devastating ice crystals needs to be applied as an added layer of protection for a palm if there is a sudden freeze. And as our landscape designers like to point out, if the freeze did not totally damage at least partial of te tree or end up splitting/ruining some less important structural aspect, there is no logical reason that any mature fronds with a green core won’t just continue living and new shoots simply go back into growth!

FAQs

What is the most cold resistant palm tree?

Chinese windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) makes a fine lawn- or street-side tree, with its showy deep green leaves held in the evergreen formal spire-like tu…

What is the lowest temperature for palms?

Some species of palm are hardy to Portland, Oregon. These include species within Butia, Chamaerops and Trachycarpus. As a rule of thumb they can overwinter successfully in open soil up to winter minimum temperatures around -12ºC (10 degrees F.)