The palm is never so appreciated as in the heart of winter here on the Prairies. I think, in our minds, palm trees mean warm climates, wonderful oceans and lots of white beach sand. And I ask you what could possibly be more attractive when the temperature drops to -45 C. This year I had the great fortune to bring in 2015 on the west coast of Canada, and, yes, with palm trees.
There are several palms that are really quite tolerant to some cold and frost. One of the most popular palms I was admiring today is the windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei ). It is tolerant of temperatures down to -12 C so is perfect for the area I am currently in. They are tolerant of a variety of light levels and require almost no maintenance. Consider this an option if you are fortunate to live in zone 8.
The Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis ) offer a bold statement in the garden and are popular in containers here on the west coast. It is extremely drought tolerant and needs to be planted in full sun. If the temperature drops below -10 C this palm will need some protection.
So now you are excited we can grow palms in Canada, most of the palms are considered to be tropical and cannot grow in temperatures less than 15 C (59 F). The most famous, and romantic, palm ever is of course the coconut palm that can be found growing by the warmer seas right around the world. It soars above the surf to heights of 30 metres. To grow they need moist, well-drained fertile soil and lots of full sun. They are resistant to high winds and are even able to survive hurricanes. Traditionally they are used for their wood, oil and of course foliage to create thatch roofs.
Some of the other palms we see regularly in atriums and greenhouses are the Fishtail Palms (Caryota spp.). They are actually tolerant of both lower humidity and lower light areas. These palms are found under the canopy in their natural locations. This makes them perfect for our sunrooms or conservatories. They are fast growers and enjoy being placed outside for the summer in shady locations. It seems to offset the long winter that our plants also endure.
Parlor or Butterfly Palms are also a nice choice for us as they are relatively inexpensive, and seem to do pretty well in our living areas. In fact, if you are fortunate enough to have a bathroom with good exposure and enough space to house a small palm, you might be closer to emulating a tropical oasis for the palm. The extra humidity helps to keep them healthier.
For those of us dreaming of palms here in Saskatchewan, why not grow a few from seed. They are actually easy to grow but have a long gestation period so growing them helps increase our patience. Remove the fleshy coverings and soak the seeds in tepid water overnight. Discard any seeds that are still floating and plant those that have sunk to the bottom of the container. Use any seed starting mix and keep them warm to help hasten germination.
As far as care for your palms, it is really rather simple. Remove spent fronds to keep them looking tidy and ensure they are watered weekly. They do like a fertile soil and crave iron, magnesium, maganese and potassium so fertilizing occasionally with a product containing these nutrients is recommended.
