University of Miami (Ohio)

[Kansas Tropic Man]

I don't know if ya'll have seen what the University of Miami (Ohio) is doing in the field of cold hardy palm research.
http://www.cas.muohio.edu/coldhardypalms/index.html

[lucky1]

There's a U of Miami in OHIO?
Somebody had a sense of humor.

Nice focus on the Trachy takil...wait until they discover Trachy nainital.

Barb

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Dr. Franco now lives in Alabama. A true pioneer growing palms and exotics where people still say won`t grow there. After I read his book it really made up my mind to try it for myself. His new book should be out soon.

John

[turtile]

Look at his current project:
http://www.physorg.com/news134755740.html

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Now that is something really substantial for us cold hardy plant fanatics. I would definitely spray "freeze-Pruf" on my palms, yuccas,bananas to give them the extra edge against the cold.

[Paul Ont]

I'd have no problem using 'Freeze pruf' either! It sounds very promising!
I wonder when we'll start to see the first genetically modified palms suitable for growing in the northern zones... They can't be that far off! (Personally I'd use the 'cold hardiness' genes from something like Yucca glauca; or maybe a one of those boreal evergreen species!)

Is Francko still working on hardiness at Alabama or has he given it up for other research? I ask because the 'Freeze Pruf' is something that has obviously come out of the work he did at Miami!