What area is the furthest north has a climate that supports Palm Trees? (temperatures, Chicago)

[Dingler]

Is there any place as far north of the USA that has a climate that is so mild that Palm Trees will grow? I read somewhere that Palm Trees will grow along the coast in VA and in Oregon and Washington-- but I have never seen them in those States. Any banana belt climates in the north that will allow for Palm Trees?

[cooperwx]

I have seen palmetto trees in SE North Carolina. They look like palms but with no coconuts.

[LRUA]

Farthest north area that palms can grow in the USA is near the coast in Washington State (49 degrees north latitude)....just to the north in Vancouver,BC Canada there are quite a few palms grown as well ....you're right about south east Virginia ....there are a few hotels at Virginia Beach with palms ...and some palm "enthusiasts" grow palms in the backyards even farther north ....Washington,DC ...even southern CT !!

[coolcats]

I have seen palms growing in Washington State and Vancouver BC. I have seen quite a few palms growing in Virginia Beach, VA and along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Outside of the U.S., I have seen palms growing in the UK, and in Southern Russia along the Black Sea Coast.

[Steve-o]

What about the midwest? Too cold in winter? Chicago puts some out along the beach in summer, but Ive never seen them out when it gets cold out. We have cacti (eastern prickly pear) that grow here naturally, I wouldnt be surprised if some palm variants could survive?

[EugeneBKLYN]

Originally Posted by coolcats

I have seen palms growing in Washington State and Vancouver BC. I have seen quite a few palms growing in Virginia Beach, VA and along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Outside of the U.S., I have seen palms growing in the UK, and in Southern Russia along the Black Sea Coast.

True.

The city of Sochi on the Black Sea is Russia's version of Miami.

[Jammie]

I've wondered that same thing and I believe it was AustinTraveler who sent me a wonderful site about palms. It shows many different kinds and the temps they'll tolerate. Some are very hardy and should actually be able to grow in places like OK and Ark. I'll see if I can get a hold of her to see if she could provide you with the link.

[AustinTraveler]

Here's the site I sent to Jammie, the Palm Tree Lover Extraordinaire!

Palm Tree Advice and Pictures of Palms from Sun Palm Trees

AT

[ken.k-la]

I have a Palm Tree in my backyard (Trachycarpus fortunei a.k.a. The Chinese Windmill Palm) and I live in the Vancouver area, I had a Mexican Fan Palm, but it died this winter....I decided to give it a try outdoors this winter (it was 2 years old) and well, all the wind and rain for the first half of November did a number on it, the sub zero temperatures for about a week we had in late November heavily damaged it, than we had more storms in January and than another 5 days of subzero temperatures in mid January finished it off

Mostly the Palms people have here are Chinese Windmill Palms, Windamere Palms, and Needle Palms as they are the hardiest. BUT, that said, there are not many of them.

[compelled to reply]

I have noticed that they seem to be growing certain species of palm further north. For one thing, on my drive from S. Fl to NY, I noticed that Florence,Sc was LOADED with Palmetto trees. Last time (About 4 years ago), there were hardly any. Royal Palms used to be common exclusively in South Florida too. I started seeing them around Orlando, and they are now common throughout the coastal areas in Central Fla right up to Orlando area. California/Mexican fan palms are making their way into southern SC too, from what I noticed. They used to struggle further north than Daytona Beach. Now they are all over Jacksonville.