Types of Cold Hardy Palms
A list of the most popular cold hardy palms and the lowest winter temperatures they can withstand. Keep in mind that the cold tolerance of palm trees is not absolute.
Cold hardiness in palms is affected by the tree's age, health and placement in the landscape. The duration of the cold spell and what kind of weather lead up to it also play a role.
This is a rare form of a palm commonly grown in Florida--a Sabal or Cabbage palm with three heads.
It is hardy to zone 7.
Needle palm trees are native to Georgia and can withstand temperatures to minus 10-degrees F.
The Windmill palm tree is called the Polar Palm in Bulgaria where it has shown great adaptability to the winters. The climate of Bulgaria is similar to that of USDA zone 7a only much drier.
Mediterranean fan palms can withstand snowfall and are hardy to 5 deg F.
Covering the base of cold hardy palms with pine straw helps to keep them warmer.
It is best to keep palms on the dry side during the cold months to avoid rot. Most palm trees will recover from moderate cold damage but this can take a few months, so be patient.
Microclimate affects palm tree growth. Palm tress protected by the presence of other shrubs and trees will fair better. The degree to which a palm can sustain the cold is dependent on its age, overall health and genetics.
Like many other trees, palms are most vulnerable to frost damage while they are young. A mature tree will often shrug off a cold snap that would kill a newly planted seedling.
The most important time to protect your tree is during its first winter in the ground.
The Chinese fountain palm is hardy to 15 degrees F.
One way to do it is to ring the tree with chicken wire.
Fill the resulting cylinder with dry pine straw.
Cover the central growing point or "heart" of the palm as this is the most important part of the tree.
If this is damaged, the tree will not survive.
Cover most of the leaves but leave a few out so that the tree can receive some light. You can wrap the wire with clear plastic for added wind protection, but, if you do this, you will need to open the plastic on any warm days to allow the tree to breathe.
Cold hardiness is a genetic trait which a palm will pass to its progeny. So, if you find a palm you like growing in the open ground in a cold climate, try to obtain seed from it. The seedlings will be at least as cold hardy as the mother.
Here's a list of some cold hardy palms:
A Pindo palm is the focal point of this front yard landscape.
Some Sabal palms are known to withstand –7.2 deg F.
Beautiful blue Mazari palms are hardy to -3 deg F.
Pindo palms are hardy to 10 deg F.
Mexican fan palms are hardy to 20 deg F.
California fan palms are hardy to 10 deg F.
Canary Island Date Palms and true edible Date palms easily survive 13 deg F.
White Elephant Palms have survived 22 deg F. for more than 14 hours without damage in Florida.
Buy Cold Hardy Palms
Rare Large Sizes
If you see a cold tolerant palm that you like but you want a different size, click through to the sales page. Each of these trees is available in more than 1 size. I am only showing 1 size for each variety in the interest of space.
Buy a 5 Foot Tall Pindo Palm - Medium Palm Tree - $399.95
Retail Price: 479.94
You Save: $79.99
Buy a 7 Foot Tall Windmill Palm - Medium Palm Tree - $329.95
Retail Price: 395.94
You Save: $65.99
Buy a 13 Foot Tall Mexican Fan Palm - Large Palm Tree - $309.95
Retail Price: 371.94
You Save: $61.99
Buy a 4 Foot Tall California Fan Palm - Small Palm Tree - $99.95
Retail Price: 119.94
You Save: $19.99
Buy a 5 Foot Tall European/Mediterranean Fan Palm - Medium Palm Tree - $369.95
Retail Price: 443.94
You Save: $73.99
Buy a 9 Foot Tall Canary Island Date Palm - Medium Palm Tree - $399.95
Retail Price: 479.94
You Save: $79.99
Buy a 25 Foot Tall Edible Date Palm v. Medjool - Large Palm Tree - $1399.95
Retail Price: 1679.94
You Save: $279.99
Needle Palm - Medium Palm Tree - $449.95
Retail Price: $459.95
You Save: $10.00
Buy Cold Hardy Palm Seeds Below
More Palm Growing Info:
Sabal Palm Pictures: Different Trunk Styles
Growing the Spindle Palm, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
Palm Tree Care Tips
Guide to Transplanting Palm Trees: Avoiding Transplant Shock
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