Beccariophoenix alfredii is not a coconut, just a palm that looks like a coconut. Calling it a "cold hardy coconut" is just a marketing ploy to get people to buy it. lol

Beccariophoenix is still not hardy enough for me. I had one outside that got slaughtered by 24f, luckily i kept one inside, hopefully they get some more hardiness with age.

I guess they call it that cause it looks similiar to the coco tree. It was new to me. If its a fast grower that would be nice.

Its more cool hardy than coconut palms so it gives people in coastal California the chance to have a coconut looking palm (or at least a ultra-tropical looking palm). Actual cold tolerance is only into the upper 20s at best, maybe mid 20s when older. They are beautiful palms though and I'd consider getting one if I was in the tropics.

From what I hear they are pretty slow growing especially when compared to coconut palms which are definitely one of the faster growing pinnate frond palms!
-Alex

Coconuts are much faster growing and they handle being indoors better inmo.
For Alabama i would get a mule palm for the coconut look alike. But you probably know that. lol

Any feather leaf type palm is welcome in Alabama. If they like being in a pot, its even better.

My husband and I nickednamed it, the fauxconut, or Ooh, the Foh-coh. lol. Ours is still small enough to keep in a pot on the front porch, sweet little baby palm. I think it was a poster named Zeeth who got us interested by his/her enthusiasm for it. We purchased it online from MB palms. We met them in person at the FIT botanical fest and they are sure good folks, purchased another palm at their booth...just super nice people there.

Seabreeze are good folk, too. I don't know how to say enough good things about them. Justen and Derek, if you are reading this....you're both wonderful and so are all the palms we've purchased from you....fat, healthy, and beautiful!