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Cold-Hardy Palm Trees For Your Garden

Palm trees, synonymous with tropical landscapes, might seem like an impossible dream for colder climates. However, there are several cold-hardy varieties that can withstand surprisingly low temperatures

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 palm trees, 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. Palm trees come from many 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. Palm trees can tolerate hard freezes with little or no damage in a few temperate climates.

While the cold hardiness of palm trees 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: Palm trees can endure temperatures below freezing if kept dry.

Generally speaking, some palm trees 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 palm trees that are easy to grow and widely available. Remember that this list represents estimates for the lowest temperatures at which an established palm tree can survive. It does not represent absolute survivable temperatures.

Cold-Hardy Palm Trees 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.

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