Planting & Care of Hardy Palms

The Needle Palm is the world’s most cold hardy palm.  Established plants have been known to survive –20 F.  They being grown in zones 6 and even zone 5B.  In zone 7 and warmer, needle palms don’t require much if any winter protection after the 1st year. Needle palms have about the same hardiness as Chinese Hollies and Southern Magnolias.

I takes about 3 years for a palm to get fully established.  When the palms are established, hardiness is increased drastically.  Small plants can be covered, the first year with pine straw.

If we have a cold, wet winter, there is a chance of bacterial crown rot.  The crown can be sprayed with a copper-based fungicide, as well as, spraying the foliage at the onset of winter.  In zone 7A and warmer areas, heavy mulching and adequate watering are about all you will need to do after the 1st year.  Most Needle Palms will grow 3-6 ft. and some have been known to reach 10 ft.

The Sabal Minor is probably the second most hardy palm.  It comes close to the needle palm in its ability to take cold wet winters.  This shrub palm resembles and is sometimes mistaken with the saw palmetto.  As with the Needle Palm, the Sabal minor grows very slowly.  They will grow somewhere between 3-6 ft in height when mature.  Because the leaf bud is below the ground, Sabal Minor will recover from intense cold.  It grows naturally in wet forested areas.  Because the crown does not open above ground it is practically immune to crown rot.

It prefers well drained, highly organic soil, but will tolerate clay.  The ideal soil for growing palms is well drained and slightly acidic.  PH should not be over 7.  Because of the palms ability to sprout roots from the sides of its trunk, it is better to plant them an inch or so deep.