Nothing says “exotic” better than palms, with their tall, swaying trunks and feathery or fan-shaped leaves, interesting flowers and fruit. Though most are frost-sensitive tropical plants, several dozen grow well in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, through the Southwest and up the West Coast. A surprising number grow well inland, even where temperatures dip well below freezing, and still others do fine as container plants for gardeners everywhere.
Here are just a few of the more popular frost-hardy palms – there has to be a spot in your garden or home for at least one! Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) Florida’s official state tree is a sturdy native with tall, straight trunks reaching 50 or more feet. It grows well as single specimen, but is very showy in groups, or as a screen or hedge. Older fronds drop naturally, leaving attractive bases. This palm’s “heart” is edible, and can be cooked like cabbage. Chinese fan palm (Livistonia chinensis)This somewhat slow-growing palm reaches to about 30 feet tall, with strikingly bright green, roundish leaves up to 6 feet wide with drooping tips. It’s hardy to about 15 degrees F, with protection from sudden deep freezes. Seed is a pretty deep blue-green. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)This is the classic “desert oasis” palm, with tall trunks to 70 or 80 feet and long, slightly arching fronds of stiff, pointed leaflets. It often grows in small clumps with several trunks from basal suckers and bears the “dates” you find in markets. The upper trunk is patterned with short stalks of old leaves. Date palm can recover from freezes into the lower teens. Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor)
Hardy to well-below 0 degrees F, this Southeastern native is perfect for use as an understory shrub in shade, but it can also hold up well in full sunlight. Its stout underground trunk sprouts large palmate leaves on long sturdy stems, often reaching 8 or 10 feet high and nearly as wide. It tolerates heavy, wet soils.
Fan palm (Chamaerops humilis)At 10-15 feet tall, this medium-height specimen palm is one of the best for general use. Its 2-foot palmate fronds and stout, multistemmed clumping effect make it suitable as an accent, screen or even potted plant for patios or decks. It tolerates down to around 15 degrees F for short periods of time.
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