Growing Palm Trees in Navajo County (Phoenix, Winslow: live in, garden, rich)

[skippy upwood]

(I've posted something similar in the Garden forum)

I was wondering if anyone here has had any success in growing palm trees or palm-like cycads/yuccas outdoors (i.e not in a greenhouse) in Navajo county? I have some land in Winslow, Arizona - (USDA Hardiness Zone 6, Arbor Day Foundation Zone 7, AHS Heating Zones 6-8) and I'm seriously thinking about settling there.

If so, can you tell me the name of the plant that you grew and some growing techniques? I've heard that building a windbreak helps protect palms - is this correct?

Any pictures would also be appreciated.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by skippy upwood

(I've posted something similar in the Garden forum)

I was wondering if anyone here has had any success in growing palm trees or palm-like cycads/yuccas outdoors (i.e not in a greenhouse) in Navajo county? I have some land in Winslow, Arizona - (USDA Hardiness Zone 6, Arbor Day Foundation Zone 7, AHS Heating Zones 6-8) and I'm seriously thinking about settling there.

If so, can you tell me the name of the plant that you grew and some growing techniques? I've heard that building a windbreak helps protect palms - is this correct?

Any pictures would also be appreciated.

Good luck.

You may be able to grow a windmill palm (trachycarpus fortunai); but as for coconut palms, etc. no dice.

As for yucca plants: I see no reason why not; as a kid growing up outside of Wash DC, we have a yucca plant in our front yard in Silver Spring, Md which survived the Blizzard of 1966------intact. And that area is Climate zone 7 (barely).

[nitram]

Along with the Windmill Palm, Sawtooth Palmetto palm trees are widely sought after to plant in Northern areas, because of their cold hardiness and evergreen nature.
They need to be planted early in the season to be established before frost arrives. That would be in the spring when weather starts to warm up.

[ULUtree]

Sometimes it is better for a gardener to experiment with what others say is impossible. A good rule of green thumb is to see feel and proceed from the plants perspective. Being that we have severe heat there are some things that can be done to have empathy for your experiment, position the start so that it recieves morning sun and afternoon shade to protect it durring the hotter afternoon. Deep rich well drained soil kept moist daily is an important component. Companions are helpful such as a large shady tree or trees that shade large areas of the soil and keep the temperature down. When i came to Phoenix from Hawaii i began growing Bannanas pineapples, sugarcane, Taro ,yams ,lemon grass , a mango seed sprouted 2 years ago and is still going. In The middle of February I would like to begin this Coconut experiment for myself. John F Kennedy once said the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago the second best time to plant a tree is today.

[zonababe]

Washingtonia Palm or Mexican Fan Palm should grow in that climate.

[115db]

I never could understand the idea of palm trees in the desert. Palms require water, which is pretty sparce in many desert areas, yet many try to make it look like a paradise? Whats up with that?
To me, they belong in areas near oceans, or in the tropics, or maybe southern Calif. Can you imagine putting cactus's in Maine or Toronto?
Maybe Im missing something here but personally I dont think they belong in a desert. Just my 2c.

[motormaker]

^ Palm trees have been growing in the desert for thousands of years.

Desert Palm Trees Pictures - stock photos and fine art prints

[john4355]

Originally Posted by 115db

I never could understand the idea of palm trees in the desert. Palms require water, which is pretty sparce in many desert areas, yet many try to make it look like a paradise? Whats up with that?
To me, they belong in areas near oceans, or in the tropics, or maybe southern Calif. Can you imagine putting cactus's in Maine or Toronto?
Maybe Im missing something here but personally I dont think they belong in a desert. Just my 2c.

Do you think Date Palms (Phoenix dactylifera) look out of place in the Sahara Desert or in the deserts of the Middle East?
There are about 2,600 species of palm trees that grow in lots of different climates (some in deserts). I don't understand discouraging someone from growing a plant because you think it looks "out of place".

I think growing Windmill Palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) has been tried before in zone 6 and its worth a shot trying it in Winslow (especially if you site it so its protected from cold winds).

[chrokee69]

Hey I was wondering the same thing. My brother said that they won't grow here in Missouri, but why couldn't I try it also. Yes I know that I live in Missouri. But wanted to try something different.

[motormaker]

I had a co-worker that was from Kansas, he had a potted palm in his front yard and moved it to his basement in the fall and then out to his front yard in the spring.