Create Your Garden

Cold-Hardy Palms For Your Garden

Palm Trees, Exotic Gardens, Mediterranean Gardens, Tropical Gardens

Hardy Palms, Cold-Hardy Palms, Trachycarpus, Brahea, Chamaerops humilis, dwarf fan palm, Mexican blue palm, jelly palm, Chilean wine palm, Phoenix

Transform your garden into a winter oasis with cold-hardy palms, defying chilly climates while infusing your landscape with a touch of tropical splendor.

To most people, palm trees evoke images of the tropics with their charming silhouettes and graceful fronds that sway gently in the breeze. However, many of the 2,500 species tolerate cooler climates and can withstand brief periods of colder temperatures and even occasional snowfall. Palms come from many different tropical, subtropical, or temperate climate zones. Some are native to high elevations where true winter conditions occur, while others are native to the warmer parts of the temperate zone in North America. A few temperate climate palms can tolerate hard freezes with little or no damage.

While the cold hardiness of palms varies by species, other factors must be considered.

  • Age and size: Younger plants are more susceptible to severe cold damage than older, established plants.
  • Duration of cold: Extended periods or repeated exposure to low temperatures will produce more damage and even lead to death.
  • Relative humidity: Palms can endure temperatures below freezing if kept absolutely dry.

Generally speaking, some palms can be grown in hardiness zone 7a or even 6b if sheltered from cold (planted on the south side of a building) or covered with mini-green house coverings and wraps.

Here is a list of popular hardy palms that are easy to grow and widely available. Keep in mind that this list represents estimates for the lowest temperatures that an established palm tree can survive. It does not represent absolute survivable temperatures.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 11
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden

Cold-Hardy Palms For Your Garden

Bismarckia nobilis (Bismarck Palm)
Brahea armata (Mexican Blue Palm)
Brahea edulis (Guadalupe Palm)
Butia capitata (Jelly Palm)
Chamaerops humilis (European Fan Palm)
Dioon edule (Chestnut Dioon)
Jubaea chilensis (Chilean Wine Palm)
Livistona chinensis (Chinese Fan Palm)
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm)
Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm)
Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Needle Palm)
Rhapis excelsa (Lady Palm)
Sabal minor (Dwarf Palmetto)
Sabal palmetto (Cabbage Palm)
Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen Palm)
Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese Windmill Palm)
Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm)
Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 11
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden

Related Items

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone