[bcc74]

Windmill Palms are very growable in Birmingham, Alabama, as depending on who you ask can take temperatures down to 5-10F, and once established even lower. That is the variety that is grown at that house on AL 119 you have seen. These are actually becoming quite popular in that area. I planted one at my dad's house in Roebuck in April 1991, and I have not had to protect or had my dad protect it since that cold spell in January 2003 which brought the temperature down to 7 F. The trunk now is over 5 feet tall, and with the top limbs it is over 8 feet tall. My aunts around the corner have a very similar palm that is bushy in their backyard (a mothers day gift in May 1994), and I have planted a windmill at my mothers house in Hoover (I believe it was Spring 2000). The updated Arbor Day Foundation hardiness zone from 2006 has moved Birmingham clearly into Zone 8 (minimum winter temps no lower than 10 F), which makes sense since that January 2003 morning is the only morning snce February 1996 that the temperature went below 10 F. The 1990 map had Birmingham in 7 B, which was 5-10 F, and the northern border of Zone 8 had been Montgomery. Recently, with Birmingham being bumped up to a higher zone, I have seen several Sabal (the type you see so much at the beach), Pindo and Sago Palms planted throughout the city, and they survived this past winter which was the coldest since 2003 as the temperature went down to 13F at the airport. However, since Zone 7 seems to kick back in around Cullman, taking the risk much north of Birmingham at this point may not be worth it. I have a feeling when the next map is done 10-15 years from now, Birmingham may be bumped up to what was 8 B or minumum temperatures of 15-20F, since there is a definate winter warming trend right now.

[Socal2Bham]

Thank you bcc74! Sheesh, I'm from southern california and I did not realize how many different types of palms there are let alone their names. With your help I found this site
Paradise Palm Company: Windmill Palm
It sounds like Pindo plams would work as well.