We are continually on the hunt for cold hardy palms and cycads. There is no reason why gardeners in Tennessee or Virginia cannot have a palm tree in their landscape. Add some tropicality to your temperate garden today!
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
You are absolutely not going to believe this, but here goes. Palm nut Kiril Donov noticed these 40-year-old windmill palm trees growing in Plavdiv, Bulgaria...that's right, the one near Romania. According to Donov, these trees regularly see very cold temperatures including a record -17 degrees F in 1993...see (www.polarpalm.net). After growing these to a larger size, we are fairly confident these represent hybrids between a very hardy Trachycarpus fortunei and Trachycarpus fortunei 'Wagnerianus'. Please keep in mind that each plant is either male or female...no way to tell until they mature so grow several to get seed. Although they will take a bit of shade, the growth rate is much faster in full sun. We are thrilled to be able offer this again for the first time since 2004. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Always on the lookout for hardy palm selections, I sighted two magnificent 30' specimens of very hardy windmill palms on Ridgeway Drive in Charlotte NC (3 hours west) in the late 1970's. We are thrilled to make seedlings of this particularly winter hardy strain available for the first time since 2000. All Trachycarpus fortunei will tolerate some shade, but their growth rate will slow dramatically. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We have been so thrilled at our success with Dioon edule that we want more folks to try it. This offering represents seed-propagated plants of the variety Dioon edule var. angustifolium from southern Tamaulipas, Mexico. The stiff glaucous-green leaves resemble an old sun-baked vinyl chair after rigor mortis sets in. The fronds typically reach 3-4' in length and often emerge an attractive reddish-bronze. We recommend at least 4-6 hours of sun and well-drained soils for best growth. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This offering represents seed-propagated plants of Dioon edule var. edule from populations in Jacala, Mexico that occur around 4,500' elevation. The glossy, bright green fronds can eventually reach 10' in length, so plant to allow enough room. This has been great so far in our garden winter hardiness trials. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
This rare cycad hails from China's southern Sichuan and northern Yunnan provinces, where it was discovered and named in 1979. Its natural habitat consists of dry, scrubby, wooded slopes where it grows in alkaline soils. Its location makes it one of the most cold hardy cycad species. In our trials so far, we have seen no leaf damage at 15 degrees F. When mature, the plant will develop a 6' tall trunk, topped with a ring of stiff "fronds", which emerge green when young but later change to glaucous. Despite reports of very rapid growth, I've seen dead snails move faster than these grow. Supplies are very limited. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
In 2008, we were fortunate to visit the rocky, exposed hillsides in the Taitung Prefecture of southeastern Taiwan where this cycad calls home. Cycas taitungensis is similar in appearance to the popular house plant, Cycas revoluta. In 7-9 years (temperate climates), Cycas taitungensis forms a large rosette of stunning 5' long, dark green, plastic-like fronds circling the leg-sized trunk which can eventually reach 10' tall. While the foliage will burn back at 20 degrees F, all of our plants resprouted during their annual late spring flush, from 7 degrees F in 2009. We recommend you establish these early in the season and mulch well until you have a robust trunk. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This man-made hybrid between the mainland Chinese Cycas guizhouensis and the Taiwanese Cycas taitungensis was created by Florida cycad guru, Robert Chumley. This has proven to be a very vigorous grower, which has so far endured only one winter outdoors for us, including many nights at 16 degrees F. While both parents are similar in appearance, the vigor of the hybrid is truly amazing. We're guessing that this will make a 3' tall x 5' wide specimen in 10 years...but then again, that's a guess. Stock is very limited, so don't dilly dally...at least not until after you've ordered. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
The chance to acquire anything from the long war-torn, dangerous region of Kashmir is quite remarkable, so don't delay in trying these special palms. Nannorrhops ritchieana reaches its northernmost range limit at the Western Kashmir foothills of the Karakoram Mountains that divide Pakistan, India, and China. Here at 4900', Nannorrhops ritchieana grows in a more moist, humid, but also more severely cold habitat than normal. These plants actually has a much more compact habit than plants from the other parts of its range. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Until recently, finding seed of this Afghanistan/Pakistan native proved nearly as difficult as finding Osama, although killing a nannorrhops is far easier. This very slow-growing, grey-green foliaged desert palm is one of the most sought-after plants by palm collectors. This is not the non-hardy powder blue form which was mistakenly lumped by herbarium taxonomists into this species. When established, plants resemble a slow trunking sabal to 4' in 10 years. We have found it marginally hardy into the single digits, so a protected but very sunny spot is best. This palm does not like any shade. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are pleased to offer seedlings from an extremely vigorous natural stand of Sabal minor in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, just west of Folsom, Arkansas, near the Red River. According to the late Logan Calhoun (our seed source), seedlings of this population have survived temperatures of -24 degrees F in Wichita and are producing seed. Sabal minor 'McCurtain' will be great for experimental gardeners who like to push the hardiness limits...our offerings are second-year seedlings. These grow much faster than the typical Sabal minor. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This seed strain of the southeast native Sabal palmetto was collected by retired City of Raleigh horticulturist Noel Weston on a trip through Tifton, Georgia after the 1980s freeze that killed most of the palmettos. Noel found an undamaged specimen at a Tifton hotel and collected seed. We gathered our seed from an original offspring, which has been growing in Raleigh since the early 1990s. Expect a 10' trunk in 15 years. In Zone 7, we recommend growing the plant to a larger size before planting it into the ground, or plant early and mulch very well until it gets established. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera is a variety of the deer-resistant European fan palm that hails from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco where it grows up to 5,400' elevation. Instead of green foliage like the species, this variety has powder-blue foliage and silver undersides, similar to Brahea armata. According to palm gurus, Gibbons and Spanner, these plants are vigorous, tolerant of a wide range of conditions, and beautiful. Our six-year-old clumps are now 3' tall x 3' wide. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Everything we know about Trachycarpus takil is wrong, as palm experts discovered in 2009. Instead of growing the real species, we all had a form of Trachycarpus fortunei from Nanital, India (just northwest of Nepal). Trachycarpus fortunei ‘Nanital' has more finely divided leaves than most typical Trachycarpus fortunei, along with a trunk that has a slight lean...a la the Tower of Pisa. When it matures, it will develop a completely bald trunk...bring out the Rogaine®! Anything written about Trachycarpus takil before 2010 refers to Trachycarpus 'Nanital'. As of 2010, seed of the true Trachycarpus takil is just becoming available. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
The Jelly palm was/is most certainly one of Elvis's favorites...rumor has him recently sighted in South America growing Jelly palms. This slow-growing specimen is the most cold hardy of the "feather leaf" palms...reliable to about 15 degrees F. Below that temperature, protect the trunks during extended cold. The trunks eventually reach 10', with large 5' long drooping fronds of blue grey emerging from atop the central trunk...truly spectacular where it can be grown. When the plants mature, you'll enjoy the delicious early winter-ripening fruits. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are thrilled to offer the rare palm hybrid between Butia capitata and Syagrus romanzoffiana. Although the hybrid can be found naturally in the wild, our plants are from cultivated hand crosses. The palm is named for French horticulturist Paul Nabonnand (1860-1937), who first coaxed the plants to mate. The hybrid shows amazing vigor comparable to syagrus, and will eventually reach 18' in height. Palm growers who have tried these report surprisingly good winter hardiness, often similar to the butia parent. We are trying this for the first time so we don't have any first hand experience. Reportedly, seed produced by the hybrid is sterile unless able to backcross to one of the parents. We recommend growing these to a larger size before trying them in the ground. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
The hardiest of palms, Rhapidophyllum hystrix is a slow-growing Southeast US (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina) native that has withstood -9 degrees F here with NO damage (without protection or special siting). We expect established specimens should handle -20 degrees F. This short-trunked clump-former has typical cut-leaf, green palm foliage and sharp "needles" at the base to protect the seeds...very rare! In marginal climates, plant needle palms early in the season and protect them the first couple of winters until they become well-established. In colder climates, we recommend up-potting young plants and keeping them indoors until they are larger. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
.jpg "Epimedium wushanense (Wushan Fairy Wings)")
.jpg "Cycas taitungensis (Tongue Tied Sago Palm)")
.jpg "Nannorrhops ritchieana (Mazari Palm)")
.jpg "Sabal palmetto 'Tifton Hardy' (Tifton Hardy Palmetto Palm)")
.jpg "xButyagrus nabonnandii (Mule Palm)")
