Of all of the vegetation on this planet, I actually do love palms. There’s one thing about them—their daring silhouettes, the way in which they sway within the breeze, the unmistakable tropical vitality they carry to an area. However what actually fascinates me is that, at their core, these towering timber are basically large blades of grass. That’s proper—palms are monocots, that means they develop from a single terminal level, identical to your garden.
Rising up in Raleigh, NC, I keep in mind seeing massive windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) standing tall exterior one of many group facilities. Later, after I moved to Wilmington, NC, palms turned much more part of my each day panorama. From native sabal palms (Sabal palmetto) to the arching, silvery-blue Butia capitata from South America, Wilmington’s streets have been lined with them.
Then got here Pennsylvania. I attempted rising palms there—tried being the operative phrase. It was a short-lived experiment. So you possibly can think about my response after I first visited Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and noticed needle palms planted within the panorama. I laughed. Audibly. There was no approach that was going to work.
Nicely, the joke’s on me.
That grouping of needle palms (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) not solely survived, however it made it by way of certainly one of Boothbay, Maine’s coldest, snowiest winters. And this wasn’t a gentle winter by any stretch. Locals inform me it was significantly brutal, so the truth that these palms pulled by way of is a tremendous signal.
Now, we didn’t simply go away them to fend for themselves. We wrapped them in protecting cages and tucked leaf compost round their crowns for insulation. However nonetheless, these are palms in Maine—we’re undoubtedly pushing boundaries right here.
Needle Palms – Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Needle palms are native to the southeastern United States, primarily discovered within the understory of forests from Florida to South Carolina, and lengthening west into Alabama and Mississippi. They’re thought-about one of many hardiest palms on this planet, able to surviving temperatures as little as -10 to -15°F. That’s spectacular for a plant that appears prefer it belongs on a seashore relatively than in a frozen panorama. In contrast to most different palms, that are extra at house in heat, humid environments, needle palms are well-adapted to woodland settings, typically discovered rising in shady, moist soils close to streams and swampy areas.
They will finally develop over six toes tall and eight toes vast, although they take their time getting there. As an alternative of a single trunk, needle palms type a dense, shrubby cluster of fan-like fronds that emerge from a fibrous, underground base. The spiky needles on the base of the plant—the place it will get its title—can attain as much as six inches lengthy and function a pure protection mechanism towards hungry animals and careless people alike. Within the wild, these spines defend the plant’s flowers and fruit, which develop tucked inside the needle-covered base. The flowers are small, yellowish, and infrequently hidden from view, however they provide technique to darkish blue or black fruit that pulls wildlife.
Regardless of their tropical look, needle palms are remarkably drought-tolerant as soon as established, capable of deal with each humid southern summers and dry spells. Their deep roots assist them face up to excessive winds, making them a resilient selection for landscapes. And whereas they’re slow-growing, they reward persistence with their toughness, adaptability, and evergreen presence—even in locations the place palm timber appear not possible.
I can’t let you know how thrilled I’m that these vegetation survived. Plenty of our backyard guests spend their winters in Florida or different hotter locations, so I can’t wait to see their reactions after they spot palm timber thriving right here, in coastal Maine.
What’s subsequent—coconuts in Boothbay?
-Rodney
Pictures: chillypalmtree.com, plantlust.com
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