Author Topic: Cold hardy Palm Trees Trachycarpus Fortunei in Vancouver BC Canada. (Read 2845 times)

Sean · « **on:** October 29, 2006, 12:09:37 PM »

I have always wanted to grow my own palm trees here in Vancouver and I have been quite successful this year.

There are a lot of Chinese Fan Palms planted around the city that were donated by the Pacific Northwest Palm Society. This spring I went to English Bay and harvested some seed for my own propagation.

The first photo below shows the palm trees that I harvested the seed from, The first one on the left was the seed donor.
The second photo shows the actual seed I collected in March 2006, approximately 300 seeds. The third photo is of the seedlings this spring when they began to sprout and the fourth photo is from today, October 29/06.

Come spring they will need to be divided and potted up separately.

Cheers,
Sean

Sean · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2006, 12:10:34 PM »

This photo shows the palm in one of Vancouver's very rare snowfalls...

Cheers,
Sean

Teresa · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2006, 12:21:00 PM »

You got a lot of palms there my friend!!! I planted a bunch of sago palm seeds, but so far only two have sprouted. I'm not too worried tho because they can take 9 months to a year to sprout and it's only been about 6 months.

What on earth are you going to do with all those trees?

Sean · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2006, 12:32:31 PM »

Can you say eBay? I figure I can sell them for $3 to $5 each by late spring next year. Apparently they make great house plants also.

Cheers,
Sean

Jerry · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2006, 12:36:51 PM »

I am a buyer! Very nice job!

Funny how tropical a palm makes a place look.

Joyce · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2006, 01:27:17 PM »

They are hardy here too Sean.

I have had one in the ground for 2 years now.

LilithFair · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2006, 01:42:23 PM »

T. fortuneii in considered the hardiest palm in the world. They are rated to 5 degrees F.
Here's a list of others you might be interested in trying:
Butia capitata (Pindo Palm, Jelly Palm)---15F
Brahea armata (Mexican Blue Fan)---15F
Jubaea chilensis (Chilean Wine Palm)---15F
Nannorrhops ritcheana----15F
Serenoa repens----10F
Tithrinax acanthicoma--15F
Arenga engleri---16-23F
Brahea aculeate, edulis, and nitida---18-20F
Phoenix canariensis---18F

There are several other that are hardy to about 20-25 as well.

Sean, just be careful on eBay if you are planning on trying to mail palms into the US, especially into California. The USDA in CA is very vigilant about palms and have seized packages before. CA, FL, MS, LA, TX and several other states have really strict quarantine laws about Lethal Yellowing of Palms. They don't take it lightly.

Mikey · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2006, 02:35:39 PM »

I wasn't aware palms would grow that far north. Very cool.

MikeW · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2006, 03:31:16 PM »

Mikey - You have to read Sean's bio - "I moved to the coast from Calgary so I could grow palms and bananas."

My family spent years in Nova Scotia, where it was also reasonably tolerant of plants (warm North Atlantic Drift I guess), (although for our little South African family, we found it jolly cold), so it is just the news worthy Ontario and Quebec provinces that send us the images of "frozen Canada".

As Sean has pointed out, it is not us in the lower 48 getting a cold blast of Canadian weather, but Canadians getting a cold blast of US ( Alaska) weather, that they then pass on back to us.

Cheers,

Mike

EagleEye · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2006, 04:15:09 PM »

That is very neat Sean. It's really quite amazing to me that palms grow up in Canada, but then again, you did say that you have your own microclimate.
I, for sure would buy a couple of them from you in the spring.

Steve

whis4ey · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2006, 08:47:48 AM »

Trachycarpus Fortunii is also reasonable successful here in Northern Ireland
My own tree was 'cosseted' for as couple of years. It wasn't covered this past two. I hope I don't lose it this year. If a very cold frost is anticipated I will try to cover it up

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2006, 09:37:56 AM »

There are many Windmill Fan Palms (T. fortunei) in Portland and Seattle too. Unfortunately, most who plant them don't design the landscape around them and they look really out of place.

Brahea armata (Mexican Blue Fan) is one of my favorite palms, such gorgeous color.

Viv · « **Reply #12 on:** November 02, 2006, 10:57:53 PM »

Sean the 1st pic is not at all how in my mind I picture Canada to be!

It looks very tropical. You live in a more beautiful place than what I imagined! Got any more pics??

Jerry · « **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2006, 05:41:11 PM »

These are at the home of my former daughter-in-law. Pertty nice kings!
They are moving to a bigger place and love palms too. I am sure they will plant many more.

LilithFair · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2006, 05:27:40 PM »

Those look great, Jerry! I plan to set out some cold hardy palms this next spring. The only "not greenhoused" palms I have at the moment are Med Fans, Needles, saw palmetto, a single Pygmy Date, Sagos (I guess they count, sorta) and a Bamboo palm.

I have done some research and picked some to plant. I an going to do some foxtails, a few more Pygmy dates, some Queens, some more bamboo palms, some Lady Palms, Caryota gigas Thai Giant, maybe a pindo or 2...I have a large list of cold hardy palms appropriate for this area and am going to see what I can find.

I have an order coming hopefully this week from Hawaii....some more unusual and rare stuff, including Hydriastele dransfieldii, Iguanura piahensis, Licuala cordata, Allagoptera arenaria, Calyptrocalyx stenochista and some others...I can't wait!

maryvonne · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2006, 07:40:27 PM »

Neat looking babies there, Sean. I wonder if they would be ok to grow in Qualicum?
Great looking palms Jerry.

Maryvonne

Sean · « **Reply #16 on:** November 06, 2006, 07:35:43 AM »

Hi Maryvonne,

I am sure they would grow there just fine. With the moderating influence of the water, I would assume the Zone for the area is still 7 or 8 even though it is further north.
I'd be happy to send you with some to try out when you move to the Island.

Cheers,
Sean

maryvonne · « **Reply #17 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:16:16 PM »

Thanks Sean. Our property is inland somewhat but I'll ask some neighbours up there what zone we will be. Some parts of Vancouver Island are warmer than here while others get colder. I plan to keep the next gardens very low key and focus on the tropical indoors.

Maryvonne

SheilaJ · « **Reply #18 on:** December 09, 2006, 05:52:06 PM »

Sean, I'd love to buy one from you in the spring when it's warm enough to ship safely!

Jerry · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2006, 08:48:05 AM »

Me too Sean !