Hardy Palms - Fan Palms

Fan Palms

The fan palms (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae; palms with fan-shaped leaves) include all of the hardiest palms.

• Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei, T. takil) - the best known cold-hardy palms, these tough species are native to the Himalaya and east to central China, where although not growing so far north (to about 31°N) as the Needle Palm, they do grow at high altitudes where temperatures are cool. It is also tolerant of low summer temperatures (15 °C/59 °F) in oceanic climates. This enables it to be cultivated further north than any other palm, with mature trees successful as far north as 58°N in northern Scotland. Mature specimens can also be found in most parts of England, Seattle, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island regions of Canada, around Tokyo in Japan, and Tasmania, Australia. Trachycarpus fortunei is also being grown experimentally in Tórshavn on the Faroe Islands (62°N), with young plants growing well so far (Højgaard et al., 1989). A tree of T. fortunei has been growing at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York City since the 1980s, albeit protected by a plastic wrap during the coldest months. There are also a plethora of mature T. fortunei growing unprotected in downtown Washington D.C. and surrounding areas. Most notably 15' tall tree in front of the National Air and Space Museum, since 2001.
• Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) - The only palm native to southern Europe, and very drought-tolerant. Hardy to −12 °C (10 °F), but does prefer hot summers. Despite the fact that this palm is less hardy than many palms listed here, it has the northernmost native habitat because of the mild Mediterranean climate. It is found in abundance across most of southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. It is a very slow-growing plant. The blue form of the species, native to high elevations of the Atlas Mountains, has recently been introduced into the trade and early reports indicate that it may be 5 or more degrees hardier than the green form.
• Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) - This clustering and usually trunkless palm is native to the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is considered hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6 and can be cultivated without protection as far north as the New York City metro area, including the lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut. With some protection, it is possible to grow one to the north in New England. They have proven hardy in the Tennessee valley region and up into the Ohio Valley and Mid-West areas with hot summers. During the winter, it can tolerate temperatures as low as −23 °C (−9 °F). The needle palm is very slow growing and rarely reaches heights of over 1 metre. There are documented specimens that have been growing in White County, Tennessee, since the early part of the 1960s, as well as United States National Arboretum in the Asia Valley section, in Washington D.C., that are at 3 m in height.

• Mazari Palm (Nannorrhops richtiana) - This palm, native to the dry, mountainous terrains of Afghanistan and surrounding regions, is also thought to be extremely cold hardy (perhaps to about −20 °C/−4 °F), though also requiring hot summers and dry soils. However, due to its limited availability in cultivation, not much is known about this palm. Mazari Palm is not easy to grow, perfect drainage and full sun are required for this palm to survive. This palm will not tolerate wet freezes.
• Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) - Native to Florida, this bushy palm is hardy to about −15 °C (5 °F). This bushy palm grows in abundance within wetlands and subtropical grasslands of central and northern Florida. Extract from Saw Palmetto is often used to treat problems with the prostate.
• Sabal palms (palmettos; 13 species) - These palms are native to the southeastern United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. The Dwarf Palmetto (S. minor) is the hardiest species in the genus. The cultivar 'McCurtain' is considered the hardiest, to USDA zone 6, like the needle palm. It can tolerate short periods of temperatures as low as −22 °C (−8 °F). A southern Arkansas cultivar may be just as hardy and grows larger than the McCurtain palm.

One of the possible reasons that the dwarf palmetto is so hardy is that it forms a subterranean trunk, and in the coldest of climates grows very slowly, rarely producing much of a noticeable trunk (but in warmer climates can attain up to 3 m of above-ground trunk). The Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto), the state tree of both Florida and South Carolina, is very common on the southeast coast of the United States. The species is considered hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 8, and may survive short periods of temperatures as low as −14 °C (7 °F). A number of Cabbage Palmettos grow in the North Atlanta area (formerly zone 7a according to the much outdated USDA zone map, now zone 8), as well as throughout the remainder part of the Atlanta metro area successfully unprotected and are now common in Virginia Beach, (Zone 8). The Mexican Palmetto (Sabal mexicana) is a close relative of the Cabbage Palmetto, native to southern Texas and northern Mexico. It looks like a more robust version of the Cabbage Palmetto, with a larger trunk, although they may be difficult to tell apart. Cold hardy to about −9 °C (16 °F) and grown throughout Texas in cities such as San Antonio, Austin, and even Dallas. Another trunking Sabal to try in Zone 8a and warmer is Sabal uresana, its cold hardiness is similar to Sabal palmetto. Typically Sabal uresana has blue fronds although a green leafed form exists and is supposedly even more cold hardy.

• Trithrinax campestris - It is native to northern Argentina, from lowlands to the mountains of Sierras de Córdoba and Sierras de San Luis, trees growing at altitudes withstand temperatures at least −15 °C (5 °F). It also can suppourt fire.
• Washingtonia palms (Washingtonia filifera, W. robusta) - These palms are native to southern California and northwest Mexico, growing as high as 30 m in their native habitat. California Washingtonia (W. filifera) is hardy to −12 °C (10 °F); it prefers a dry Mediterranean climate, and will not grow taller than 12–15 m in a humid area. It is sometimes grown in containers or planted as short-term specimens in areas where it is not hardy. Mexican Washingtonia (W. robusta) is somewhat less hardy, native to northern Mexico and southernmost California. It has a more robust trunk and stiffer leaves than W. filifera, and is hardy to -10 C. It has been grown in Houston, Texas, Miami, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. Washingtonia robusta, even though somewhat less hardy, may be a better choice for the Southeastern United States because it is more tolerant of high humidity.
• Archontophoenix cunninghamiana - It is native to Australia.
• Livistona australis - It is native to southeastern Australia.
• Rhapis excelsa - It is native to China and it is hardy to about −7 °C (19 °F).
• Howea forsteriana - It is native to Norfolk Island in Australia.
• Rhopalostylis sapida - It is native to New Zealand. It is southernmost palm in the world found as far south as 44°S.