tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post1030534042772563392..comments2024-02-05T23:24:54.601-05:00Comments on DC Tropics: Washington windmill palm winners (and losers)DC Tropicshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-10772361786660106352014-09-10T09:25:47.030-04:002014-09-10T09:25:47.030-04:00I heard back from Mark H., who originally planted ...I heard back from Mark H., who originally planted it in 1994 (although he no longer owns the property) and it is apparently very badly damaged but still (barely) alive. I only have this second hand--actually third, as I don't believe he has seen it either, and only heard from the current owner.DC Tropicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-47864072506513088242014-09-09T12:46:23.456-04:002014-09-09T12:46:23.456-04:00Thanks for the info, it's very encouraging tha...Thanks for the info, it's very encouraging that any palms at all survived outside the urban core. I'm still not convinced that genetics has anything to do with some palms surviving where others didn't; I suspect there are many different factors involved that are just about impossible to control, like soil type or drainage, moisture, wind patterns, establishment or general health of the plant, etc. What really got us this year was the fact that (a) the extreme cold came very early in the winter, and (b) it was followed by several more cold periods--maybe not as low, but compounding the damage that was already done. I think the same cold later in the winter, or occurring early and followed by a relatively warm winter, would have made a big difference.DC Tropicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-51354229256360378522014-09-09T12:42:10.820-04:002014-09-09T12:42:10.820-04:00Are you in the Washington, DC area? If so, I'...Are you in the Washington, DC area? If so, I'm surprised you had any damage to your Sabal minor or Rhapidophyllum hystrix.DC Tropicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-20194121392398500962014-09-09T12:41:08.375-04:002014-09-09T12:41:08.375-04:00That is great news, thanks for sharing. I'm s...That is great news, thanks for sharing. I'm still looking for any patterns as to which palms lived and which palms died. Shelter and proximity to a building help immensely, but even that wasn't enough for some of our area palms.<br /><br />Sabal minor seems to be completely hardy here, although my own suffers mechanical damage (bending/breaking) from snow and ice. I don't know if the fruits are edible.DC Tropicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-61291768073297915982014-09-09T12:39:32.927-04:002014-09-09T12:39:32.927-04:00Thanks Loree, this is how we all learn and I don&#...Thanks Loree, this is how we all learn and I don't regret it!DC Tropicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-87390674063202071342014-09-09T12:39:00.989-04:002014-09-09T12:39:00.989-04:002/3 mortality is about what we had here as well. ...2/3 mortality is about what we had here as well. Your post emphasizes the importance of siting in a sheltered or otherwise favorable microclimate. It's surprising how much temperature can vary over just a few feet, especially when buildings are involved. But it's very encouraging that any windmill palms at all survived up your way! Thanks for sharing.DC Tropicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-44647430352559317062014-09-04T12:43:47.795-04:002014-09-04T12:43:47.795-04:00I'm in North Bethesda/Rockville, and both of ...I'm in North Bethesda/Rockville, and both of my Trachies had 80% defoliation. Both are recovering. Both are planted close to the house. <br /> My Needle palm had no damage at all, and a Sabal Brazoria jammed against the wall in a pot survived with about 40% defoliation. <br /> It still suprises me that many of these larger, more established palms in warmer parts of the area didn't do any better than my relatively small specimens out of downtown, north of the city. (In fact many did worse, since none of mine completely defoliated or died!) It's also sobering that we didn't even go below zero (which can and did happen south of here this year) and this is what we got! Duration matters, even for Trachies. On the other hand, it's possible that some these palms might have done better in a year where there were dips below zero , but no long durations of cold. I suspect the frequency/intensity of wind is a factor , too, and the timing of the cold after warm-ups as well. dbk_999https://www.blogger.com/profile/05968807302466562896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-33424556338112463942014-09-02T08:22:37.110-04:002014-09-02T08:22:37.110-04:00I lost a very healthy-looking 6' Trachycarpus ...I lost a very healthy-looking 6' Trachycarpus fortunei. The palm was planted close to my house and surrounded by evergreen bushes. I mulched it but provided no additional winter protection. Nearby seedlings showed some burnt foliage but returned in June. Other palms - namely Rapidophyllum hystrix and Sabal minor - also showed burnt foliage but survived. Although I regret the loss of the large Trachy, I consider myself lucky, given my laissez-faire attitude!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-27625287700861728842014-09-01T16:34:19.818-04:002014-09-01T16:34:19.818-04:00THE STERLING PALM????!!!!THE STERLING PALM????!!!!Allen Hirshhttp://www.tucsoneast.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-83987440156549434082014-08-31T19:03:48.581-04:002014-08-31T19:03:48.581-04:00If you are looking for local good news, my Windmil...If you are looking for local good news, my Windmill palm (T. fortunei) planted a s a seedling in Spring 2002 in Chevy chase DC, survived with severe damage. all the leaves fried, but the spear came in green. It receives no winter protection but is planted very close to the house, on the East side. Likely from insufficient sun, it has never flowered. The trunk is only about 5 ft. tall, with the leaves reaching 7-8 ft.<br /><br />My nearby sabal minor, planted at the same time farther from the house, shows no damage, It even flowered for the first time; are the fruit edible?Robert Weinerhttp://home.gwu.edu/~rweinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-4582489594016809622014-08-31T01:55:28.397-04:002014-08-31T01:55:28.397-04:00Appreciate the update and it is always sad to lear...Appreciate the update and it is always sad to learn at the expense of those who have dreamed and planted.danger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-81542200854197148882014-08-30T22:36:19.375-04:002014-08-30T22:36:19.375-04:00Thanks for the update. It was the same in N.J. My ...Thanks for the update. It was the same in N.J. My (3) trunked trachys died, having received only minimal protection. My winter low was +1, but there was an advective low of 2 or 3. many or most of the trachys on public property in Camden, Burlington, and Mercer Counties have died. A few started to grow and then died. A very few of the trunked trachys have substantial amounts of foliage that survived winter. I haven't done a tally yet, but perhaps a third are alive. The living ones have varying amounts of growth. The few with foliage were in very sheltered locations. There may be slight genetic differences in hardiness between different strains, but last winter obliterated initial differences. I've replaced a few and have plenty of gallon sized trachys to plant next spring.Steve Silbersteinnoreply@blogger.com