Palm Trees In Lubbock - Can They Happen? (Dallas, El Paso: appointed, hotels)

[case44]

Hi, gang. Let's gather once again around the ol' computer campfire because I've got a good one for you. I saw a great thread on one of the Oklahoma forums, and it gave me a thought. The times I've traveled to Lubbock, I have tried to look for palm trees anywhere in the city. I have seen the occasional yucca tree (a must for West Texas), but no palm trees. I've seen them in Midland, and I know it cannot really be done in Amarillo, but I think Lubbock has potential to have palm trees (Mexican Fan and maybe Mediterranean) in their city, especially if they are successful in Midland. The last time I stayed in Lubbock hotel-wise was interestingly called the Best Western Palms. They had replicas of palm trees, but was disappointed to see that they didn't have real ones. I think such could work in Lubbock, and I would certainly envision that as the city continues to grow. Some local streets, businesses, parks, hotels, and restaurants could use them, and with the sunshine Lubbock gets, I believe they'll do just fine. It would be downright cool for that city.
So my question for you is this: Can palm trees be grown in Lubbock? Here you go, Lubbockites, West Texans, and anyone else out there. Your turn to sound off. Let 'er rip, guys!

[ChristieP]

You'd have to bring them inside for the winter. Lubbock is up on the caprock and it gets pretty cold with a north wind, and occasionally snows during the winter.

[Lucidus]

I think Washingtonia Filifera (California fan palm) would be worth a try in Lubbock but not Washingtonia Robusta (Mexican fan falm). I have grown both of these species in Midland/Odessa and there is a big difference in hardiness. The Filiferas have no trouble at all with usually only minor damage to the fronds during the winter. The robustas however, often are completely defoliated in the winter. Considering that Lubbock's climate is more severe in the winter than M/O's, I don't think the Mexican fan palm would have a chance. But who knows?

Other than possibly Filifera, I think Lubbock will be limited to the small hardy palms like the windmill, Mediterranean, and the needle etc.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Lucidus

I think Washingtonia Filifera (California fan palm) would be worth a try in Lubbock but not Washingtonia Robusta (Mexican fan falm). I have grown both of these species in Midland/Odessa and there is a big difference in hardiness. The Filiferas have no trouble at all with usually only minor damage to the fronds during the winter. The robustas however, often are completely defoliated in the winter. Considering that Lubbock's climate is more severe in the winter than M/O's, I don't think the Mexican fan palm would have a chance. But who knows?

Other than possibly Filifera, I think Lubbock will be limited to the small hardy palms like the windmill, Mediterranean, and the needle etc.

Very good post. I tend to think Lubbock has less snow than Amarillo, but certainly more than Dallas. But they should have enough sunshine the rest of the time. That is interesting about the California Fan palm.

[shoe01]

You may want to ask about Mazari palms (orig. from Afghanistan), which can survive down to 24 degrees, but might survive lower temps if covered up. Availability could be an issue though.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by case44

Hi, gang. Let's gather once again around the ol' computer campfire because I've got a good one for you. I saw a great thread on one of the Oklahoma forums, and it gave me a thought. The times I've traveled to Lubbock, I have tried to look for palm trees anywhere in the city. I have seen the occasional yucca tree (a must for West Texas), but no palm trees. I've seen them in Midland, and I know it cannot really be done in Amarillo, but I think Lubbock has potential to have palm trees (Mexican Fan and maybe Mediterranean) in their city, especially if they are successful in Midland. The last time I stayed in Lubbock hotel-wise was interestingly called the Best Western Palms. They had replicas of palm trees, but was disappointed to see that they didn't have real ones. I think such could work in Lubbock, and I would certainly envision that as the city continues to grow. Some local streets, businesses, parks, hotels, and restaurants could use them, and with the sunshine Lubbock gets, I believe they'll do just fine. It would be downright cool for that city.
So my question for you is this: Can palm trees be grown in Lubbock? Here you go, Lubbockites, West Texans, and anyone else out there. Your turn to sound off. Let 'er rip, guys!

Palm trees in Midland...? Where? Private residences? I can't remember ever having noticed one, but....

They have them here in Alamogordo, NM....and they just look so weird and out of place here, just as they do in EP. I'm not trying to be negative again, but the ones here right now look TERRIBLE. They're brown and dried-out, but I wonder if it is because they are going dormant....or they just aren't watered enough.

I don't know anything about them, other than they look out of place here.

And as for Lubbock? I would think it would be too cold for them there.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Palm trees in Midland...? Where? Private residences? I can't remember ever having noticed one, but....

They have them here in Alamogordo, NM....and they just look so weird and out of place here, just as they do in EP. I'm not trying to be negative again, but the ones here right now look TERRIBLE. They're brown and dried-out, but I wonder if it is because they are going dormant....or they just aren't watered enough.

I don't know anything about them, other than they look out of place here.

And as for Lubbock? I would think it would be too cold for them there.

I expect palm trees in the desert. New Mexico really isn't a surprise. Yes, I've seen some in Midland. Goes great in the Permian Basin.

As for Lubbock, I would say it could be the northernmost place in Texas that you could put a palm tree, although a few exist already in Sherman (north of Dallas and level with Lubbock due east). Lubbock's winters may be cold, but I don't think it would be quite that bad. It would be only be two or three types of hardy palm trees that could work there.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Palm trees in Midland...? Where? Private residences? I can't remember ever having noticed one, but....

There are some in Midland, but now that I think about it, they are much more common in Odessa. In north east Odessa palms are very common in commerical plantings. Mc Donald's, Chilli's, Rosa's Cafe, and All American Motors are all landscaped with palms. They are also common in residential plantings especially on the east side but can be found in any part of the city. Also, interestingly, Odessa has a number of industrial locations with palms. The best example is Hooper Trucking on County Road west. They have the property line lined with California Fan Palms. Palms may also be found in city parks. Last year the city had a large number of fan palms at its tree farm. I don't think that they are there any more and I have no idea where they were planted.

I have a "Palms of Midland-Odessa" photo tour that I made for another website, but unfortunately I have deleted the photos from Photobucket and so I have to find the memory stick with them on it. I also cannot link to that site because it is down now.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Lucidus

There are some in Midland, but now that I think about it, they are much more common in Odessa. In north east Odessa palms are very common in commerical plantings. Mc Donald's, Chilli's, Rosa's Cafe, and All American Motors are all landscaped with palms. They are also common in residential plantings especially on the east side but can be found in any part of the city. Also, interestingly, Odessa has a number of industrial locations with palms. The best example is Hooper Trucking on County Road west. They have the property line lined with California Fan Palms. Palms may also be found in city parks. Last year the city had a large number of fan palms at its tree farm. I don't think that they are there any more and I have no idea where they were planted.

I have a "Palms of Midland-Odessa" photo tour that I made for another website, but unfortunately I have deleted the photos from Photobucket and so I have to find the memory stick with them on it. I also cannot link to that site because it is down now.

I would be very much interested in seeing the photos when/if you find them! I had not been over to Odessa other than 42nd Street/Malls for several years....!

Here, they look so scroungy. Is that the nature of palm trees, or that they aren't taken care of properly? I have yet to see one that looks good.

[Muhnay]

My question is whats with all the interrest in Palm Trees all of a sudden?

I think the Palm trees in El Paso look nice, but they do look out of place. Now maybe if we turn Juarez into a large lake they would make more sense to me. =)