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Foxtail Palm
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Posted by nwmstropics (My Page) on Sat, Oct 18, 08 at 1:45
| Last week I stopped at a nursery in Memphis and found a great deal on a Foxtail Palm and Pygmy Date Palm. These plants were huge and the owner was getting rid of them dirt cheap to make room for Christmas Trees. Anyway i picked up an 11 foot Foxtail for $25.00. A picture of the tree is below. My question is, has anyone in a zone 8 or colder tried one of these outside? I will probably keep it in the garage until spring then plant it so it will have the summer to get established.
Here is a pic of the Phoenix R that I got really really cheap!
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| Neither palm will live outside there and I know that's not the news you wanted to hear but true. They can not take temps in the middle 20s ever and they can only take temps in the 30s for short durations here in south Fl. |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| As David says, neither is cold tolerant for ground planting in zone 8. Both are probably rated a zone 10. There are hardier species of Phoenix but even these are only good to about zone 9. However there are probably a dozen or so species that would be hardy in your zone (try species of Trachycarpus and Sabal, or Rhaphidophyllum hysterix--Maybe even Butia capitata in a protected site. Also, although I overwinter some hardier containerized palms in a rather chilly garage (Washingtonia, Queens, P.canariensis, among others), you have to consider both minimum winter temps there and average daily winter highs. Depending on a variety of factors, garages in the winter can range from frigid to subtropical. By the way, both make great indoor palms! |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| Big box stores carry foxtails here every year so i bought one and tried it in my yard. It died in a normal winter. And it was in a protected spot where not even spathyphyllum lilies nor a kentia palm were damaged. Just to show how tropical this species is. Here, it only does OK in the best microclimates (and that's in zone 9b) |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I've seen some growing around Jacksonville 9a but they haven't been there that long, maybe 2-3 years. I planted one the summer before last and it died with no protection last winter. They can't take cold for very long. |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I would say it is a zone 10a palm with hope in a sheltered 9b(in an area with hot summers and warm days in the winter, such as central Florida). Trunking foxtails are popping up all over the Orlando area. Their hardiness seems to be similar to a royal so they might have a chance long term here. In zone 8 it should be treated as a houseplant in the winter. |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| Here's my foxtail, which i lost to a couple of frosty nights. This picture was taken in December, about two days before Christmas. By January, the foxtail had taken a bad hit from the low 30s and completely defoliated. soon after that, the spear pulled and the palm was officially a gonner. I still see them for sale at big box stores, and they do OK here in the best of microclimates (inner city neighborhoods and the downtown areas where heat is radiated from buildings and cars and such). I probably will end up trying another one soon enough in a more protected location. 
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RE: Foxtail Palm
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| Here in Iowa these grow like weeds......not!Hey nwm,where do you live?Do you have room for these inside and how much trouble(if any)would you be willing to go,to protect these? |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| Hey Jim, I live in Mississippi just south of Memphis, TN. The Foxtail has to be 11' tall and all of the ceilings in my house are low with the exception of the master bedroom and I'm not about to tote that thing upstairs. So unfortunately, bringing it inside is not an option. I will most likely put it in the garage but I'll have to lean it over. From all of the information I've received here this palm is so delicate I may have trouble with it living in the garage. But, I only paid 50 bucks for it and the Roebelenii so if they die I'm not out much. The two Phx Rob's I have are pretty good size and I will put them in the dining room if I see the garage is too cold for them. |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I wouldn't really say they are "delicate"--they just can't take take it cold (there's a difference). What are the coldest temps in your garage over winter? What are the average day temps in winter? And is there light in your garage? PS. The foxtail is not one that I can overwinter in the garage here (queens, Washingtonia, and Butia I do). |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I've never checked the temp in the garage but it shouldn't be too bad since it is attached to the house and has a bonus room above it. The average highs around here in January are in the low 50's. Average lows are right about 30. Of course it fluctuates with cold fronts and warm fronts. The coldest we had last year was 17 for a couple of nights and rest was 20's and 30's. My washingtonias survived with just some burlap and plastic garbage bags. Maybe if I keep the foxtail at the front of the garage it will be ok and drag it out on sunny days above 50? |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| Personally, I think that's going to be too cold for a foxtail. My two-car garage is detached and the doors were replaced with glass panels (faces due South). Winter averages are low 50's day with a minimum of 38 F. (I keep a small electric heater on the coldest days going.) Washingonias are just much hardier. I also overwinter Queen palms, Phoenix canariensis, Butia capitata, and Cycas revoluta. I really would want that foxtail in warmer environment.--I keep mine in the basement under fluorescent lights. Good luck! |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I have one right in front of my house. It is gorgeous! I think zone 8 is way too cold. But since you already bought it you can grow it indoors. Do you have a sun room? Below is an article about Foxtail Palms. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Foxtail Palm Tree
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I have 5 foxtail palms, they are about 14ft tail but skinny. I planted them about 2 months ago. They seem to have some white stuff over the new green stalk that you can wipe off and the old stalk don't seem to be shedding very fast. What could this be? I live in Clearwater Florida close to Tampa bay. |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I have one that was defoliated in 07 freeze. Hasnt had a frond since-and its still alive-no spear pull. Is that a world record? |
RE: Foxtail Palm
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| My Foxtail has been in the ground 5 years now. It has seen snow, ice and 25 degrees. Its still going strong. Frost doesn't phase it. 
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RE: Foxtail Palm
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| I HAD TO CHANE 4 FOXTAILS I A YAER AND A HALF EVEN HAD SOME PROFESIONAL GARNDER COME OUT AND CHECK PH BALANCE IN SOIL NOTHING WORKS MY GUESS IS THAT WHAT IS COMMING OUT OF THESE NURSERYS THESE DAYS ARENT THAT GOOD BEST BET IS TO GET A MATURE ONE |
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