Can Palm Trees Survive in Non-Tropical Climates?
If you start digging into botanical terms, you’ll find a plethora of definitions of palm trees. Some botanists like to think of them as woody perennials, while others think of them as herbs. We like to call them trees with a single main trunk which generally ends up growing over 20 feet.
They’re generally believed to be native to tropical and subtropical regions. But the truth might surprise you. There are actually multiple types of palm trees and you can find them in 40 other states, and not just in Florida. Let’s dig in!
TROPICAL CLIMATE AND PALM TREES
When most Americans think of Florida, they probably imagine picturesque beaches, a warm climate, and palm trees. That’s how common the palms are in warmer regions — you can’t blame the misconception. Florida has about a dozen palm trees that are native to the state. If you’re thinking of planting one of them, it’s highly likely that they won’t survive the cold. You may be able to give them the protection they need but we don’t suggest it.
Disappointed? Don’t be. There actually are dozens of other palms that can survive the cold and even frost.
10 PALM TREES THAT CAN SURVIVE WINTER AND EVEN SNOW
There actually are many types of palms that can survive freezing cold temperatures. While that’s true, it should be kept in mind that palm trees need to be fully established before they’re able to withstand those temperatures. As a palm grows, it develops a sturdy root system and a trunk that stands up to frost.
Here are 10 types of palm trees that can survive in non-tropical climates easily:
- Blue Hesper (Brahea Armata)
- Canary Date Palm Tree (Phoenix Canariensis)
- Chinese Fan (Livistona Chinensis)
- European Fan (Chamaerops Humilis)
- Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum Hystrix)
- Pindo Palm (Butia Capitata)
- Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens)
- Sago Palm (Cycas Revoluta)
- Sylvester Date Palm Tree (Phoenix Sylvestris)
- Windmill Palm Tree (Trachycarpus Fortunei)
WHAT IS THE COLDEST HARDY PALM TREE?
A cold hardy palm tree refers to a palm tree that stands hard against the cold. As per Wikipedia, the Windmill Palm is believed to be the cold hardy palm tree. It can survive even the chill of the Himalayas where the temperature is always much down below the freezing point.
THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE A PALM TREE CAN SURVIVE
The lowest recorded temperature that a palm tree can survive is five degrees Fahrenheit. The reason why they won’t survive below this temperature is that plants are primarily just water. Extremely cold temperatures can result in foliage damage. When the stem of the palm freezes, the cells in it freeze and this can possibly kill the whole plant.
It goes without saying but it’s the Windmill Palm that can survive temperatures as low as five Fahrenheit.
WILL MY PALM TREE GROW BACK AFTER A FREEZE?
If your palm tree starts to show any signs of damage during the winter, don’t panic. Just do everything you can to dim down the temperature around it. If you can’t do that, let the winter pass and assess how much damage was done.
Any damaged leaves will slowly deteriorate further as cells continue to die. Don’t remove the dead leaves just yet, wait until spring. Once the spring arrives, remove any dead leaves and treat possible infections. If there’s any life in your tree’s trunk, it will recover.
CONCLUDING: HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PALM TREES DURING WINTER
Try and plant your palms in large planters so you can move them indoors when the extreme cold weather kicks in. If you can’t do that, try and build some sort of enclosure to keep the trunk warm and dry. If you can’t do that either, wrapping your palm in burlap and installing lights around it will be your best bet.