If you’ve known me for years, you know I am afflicted with zone denial (refusing to believe that certain plants won’t grow in our growing zone just because we are told so) and thus I am fascinated with hardy Palms. There are two that grow here in the D.C. area pretty well: the Needle Palm, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, and the Windmill Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei. The Needle Palm, a bushy, trunkless Palm, is definitely the more hardy of the two; the Windmill Palm is a small, trunked Palm. I have both in my own garden and they are thriving. I know of many Windmill and Needle Palms throughout the close-in D.C. area, and they are doing well (I’ve planted many of them). And other Palms are being introduced to the area by those also in zone denial… I actually saw some very tall Palmetto Palms (these are the Palms planted all along the beaches from Virginia Beach south) planted in front of an apartment building on 16th St, N.W., in D.C. I haven’t seen them since last fall… I wonder if they survived the winter? I’ve learned that it’s important to plant these hardy Palms in the springtime only so they can get well-established before the winter freezes hit. Also, it’s better to start with Palms that are a little larger as these seem to weather their first few winters here better, too. Yes, they are more expensive in the larger sizes, but it is worth the expense in the long-run if you want Palms in your garden.

Needle Palms are great because they are bushy and will grow in some shade, unlike most other Palms. They grow about six feet by six feet in this area. The Windmills like a little more sun, and I’ve seen specimens at eight feet or more in the D.C. area in protected courtyards. Both Palms are very easy to grow, once established, and are drought and insect tolerant, and deer-resistant. One thing you do need to know about the Needle Palm is that it does have long “needles” sticking out from its base…something to keep in mind if you have playing children or pets in your yard…and remember this when you clean leaves out of the center in the Fall!

Spring Chores >