Still Looking For Some Large Cold Hardys

For cold hardy palm tree enthusiasts.

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Arctic Palm
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Still Looking For Some Large Cold Hardys

Post by Arctic Palm »

Hey everyone,

I am having no success in locating some good size cold hardys. I have tried Botanix, Valleyview gardens, Tropics.ca, and some others here in Canada. I would like to exhaust all possible avenues before having to drive to the South (however I would love to go on a trip to the south). Does anyone know of anywhere else I can try to find some with at least a 5 or 6 foot trunk?
Thank you!

Also,
I have called Carolinos in Virgina Beach several times but he has not called back at all. If you go to his web site www.carolinopalms.com you will see the size I would like. Are there any other places North Carolina or north that anyone knows has them. Please let me know, thank you all!!! :lol:


kuma119
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Post by kuma119 »

You may want to try chillypalmtree.com. They are in south carolina. I am in Pa and Shawn makes several trips a tear up north. I am meeting him in 2 weeks to pick up two 5 ft trachys and a needle palm. Prices seem fair. Mark
Barrie

Post by Barrie »

"Does anyone know of anywhere else I can try to find some with at least a 5 or 6 foot trunk?

Are you refering to Trachycarpus fortunei? I can line you up, but the cost alone is around $2,000 - $3,000. Shipping would be atrocious on top of the already high price. Trunking Windmills that size would have an overall height of 10' or more feet and always command a price.
I'd look for a good healthy 15 gallon palm and grow it on from there.

Cheers, Barrie.
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

kuma119,

I emailed them. I want one about 6 feet (trunk).....they are not cheap! damn. OK, thank you for your help.!!!!!
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

Barrie,

Luckly, I have more money than brains!!! :lol:
I have found a few different sources in the past few hours so I will try them.
I agree the prices are insane for anything bigger than a 15 gal.
I have a 15 Gal that I got for $160. I can get a 30 for $400.00 but they didn't look a lot bigger than the 15.
I have no patience, I want a larger one, I'm like a kid (or so my wife says). I don't know how long it will take my 15 gal one to grow. Its about elbow high at the highest leaf. Maybe 1.5 foot trunk.
We'll see. Where are the ones you know of from?
Barrie

Post by Barrie »

The large ones you speak of are at most of the garden centers around here (Vancouver Island).
Cheers, Barrie.
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

Barrie,

I am in Ontario. Thats a heck of a long drive to pick up a palm! Another member is going down south to bring up some. I am hoping to get a couple as well. We'll see.
PALMETTOMAN
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arctic palms search

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Arctic palm,

The cold hardy's are quite expensive here in s/ontario if you can locate them..

I found a few euro palms and jelly palms here at some of the local nurseries..everything else I brought in from S.Carolina...

I've planted a few here permanently in Z6...

Broadway Nurseries (St. Catherines) has quite a selection but a little pricey for me..

My advice, take a drive south...make a mini vacation of it...visit the M/Beach/Georgetown area and you'll find some nice little garden centers etc...

Palmettoman Z6-Ajax, On
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

PALMETTOMAN,

I have been to Broadway and bought 1 T. Fortunei for $160.00. I love it but like you said they are expensive. Did you ever have any trouble getting stuff back into Canada?
I think I will be heading down there but I don't wanna get the stuff all the way back to the border and get it take away.
Let me know please
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PhilMusa
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Post by PhilMusa »

Arctic,

I believe you should be okay as long as you declare them as house plants. I don't think customs would ever think that you would actually plant them outside.
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Post by Arctic Palm »

PhilMusa,

I am on the phone with canada customs now. They don't know!!...I guess it's a chance! They say as long as it's a houseplant and it won't survive canadian winters it ok. But I will be getting 5 or 6 foot trunks!
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Post by PhilMusa »

I guess you must have high ceilings in your home or conservatory.
lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

I'm pretty sure you'll need a Phyto certificate to bring a plant across the border.

I brought home a found-growing-in-the-ditch palm from Hawaii many years ago. Had to take it to the U of Hawaii for a phyto certificate...about $35 back then. It basically says the thing isn't infested with fungi, bugs, etc. etc.

I'm waiting for a Wollemia nobilis from Australia, and same thing (in addition to an Import permit through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency), also need a phyto certificate for any live plant to arrive in Canada.

Suggest you call CFIA in Ontario (the governing body for all of Canada), and ask.
Customs just does what they're told. They don't make the rules. CFIA does.
Customs impounds anything without "the paperwork".

Good luck.
Barb
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customs

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Arctic Palm...

I wouldn't bother with the phyto stuff...

So far I've had no problems in bringing things back to this country...

I've travelled to and fro 20 times or more...

Any species that I have brought back have not been noticeably large....

I have managed to keep them to about 2 or 3 at a time, as to not draw to much attention...which brings me to my nxt point...

Try and look for the cheaper hardy's so if they do get seized..your not going to be out that much coin.

As long as they are classified as houseplants there shouldn't be a problem...

I'll post some of my $10 trachy's that I got a few years ago for you to check out...


Palmettoman Z6-Ajax, On
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

PALMETTOMAN,

I would love to see them, I will await the pics!!
Thanks
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Post by Laaz »

Like I said before, we have thousands of them here but getting them back to Canada may be a problem...
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

Laaz,

I am always nervous crossing the border. More so into the U.S. The Canadian Customs people are usually college or university students. (real safe)!
I still need to weigh my options.
I don't suppose you are coming to the Northern U.S are ya?
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Wes North Van
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Sabal Minors

Post by Wes North Van »

I wonder if I could get away with bringing in sabal minors across the border and calling them a house plant.
I am sure that the borders here are a little more concerned with palms than back east. Has anyone tried this yet from BC?
Wes North Vancouver Zone 8b/9a
Keats Island BC Zone 8a
Palm Springs CA Zone 9b/10a
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

Just a side note. I went to home depot here and they had several king & queen palm (10-20 foot), some chinese windmill palms (about 6" of trunk), Fishtail palms, Majesty's (10 feet), what looked like some Phoenix roebelenii ( 5-8" of trunk), massive banana's I have never seen before (trunks were 12" thick easy) and a whole lot more but NO T.FORTUNEI!!!!

Next time I go I will take pics and post
PALMETTOMAN
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pics for ontario palms

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Arctic palms,

Here are a few spring pics of some of the hardies from s/carolina..

washingtonia filifera-$8
pindo's-$10
trachy/fort-$10
euro's-$12

the wash/trach/fort. are now planted perm.

sorry bout the maggies...they were just to pretty to avoid..

PALMETTOMAN Z6-AJAX, ON
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictu ... 2092616571
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Post by Laaz »

Arctic I wish I could say I was going back up for a vacation, but this year I will not have the time. I am originally from Saratoga NY & make a trip to see my mom, but this year I will not have the time. Really sucks as I can make some really good cash @ the horse track in August...
Arctic Palm
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Post by Arctic Palm »

PALMETTOMAN,

So you are not that far from me. About 1.5 hours. I looked at your pics and they are very nice. I have 2 Washy's on their way from B.C about the size you have there. My question is, do you protect your planted palms in winter? If so, how seeing as they are all in different areas?
Barrie

Post by Barrie »

"I've travelled to and fro 20 times or more...
Any species that I have brought back have not been noticeably large....
"

"Travellin' to 'n fro" - won't help with a large palm and it must be declared with all the import regulations required for Canadian law. You'll need import permits and phytos for your large palm. An import broker will charge an a addtional fee if you decide that is the best route.

Cheers, Barrie
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Alchris
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Sabal Minors

Post by Alchris »

Hi Wes;
I thought that you would be able to get Sabal minors from the nurseries out there on the coast.

I am still trying to find a source for a decent size Sabal myself.

Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
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Post by Arctic Palm »

Barrie,

It seems like such a hassle to get a friggin tree!! I guess i could just wait 20 years till my trachys are big. A garden center around here has 8 foot washys they just got in. 300.00 I believe they said. I am going to get one this week.
http://www.valleyviewgardens.com/data/f ... gtonia.jpg

This one is a little smaller than the ones they have in but you get the idea
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Post by PhilMusa »

Arctic,

My sister-in-law just moved up from the USA with a Uhaul full of stuff. All she did was declare what was in it. They didn't even bother looking in. I can't believe that even if you brought over a 20 ft Trachy they would ever think that it was going to be planted outdoors. No one in Ontario is that crazy...except for some of us nuts on this forum. :lol:
That's just my two cents.
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Post by Arctic Palm »

PhilMusa,

That is the exact angle I was going to use. I was just going to say they are palm's, they will never survive our winters, it's obviously an indoor plant. My atrium in my home is large and no one in Canada sells palms tall enough to use in it.
Or something like that. Like I said before, I am more concerned about the U.S border than the Canadian one. Good thing I am not bring them into the States, :lol:
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Post by lucky1 »

Holy cow, wish I lived on that side of the country!
Glad to know it works for you.
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Post by Arctic Palm »

lucky1,

do u mean the excuse i was going to use? Ya i guess it would not work so well in B.C. I am not so sure it will work here but no harm in trying!!
lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

Ya, go for it.
Nice to know "logic" works on the eastern half of the continent.
In BC....oh gawd, you'd think you were bringin' in the First--or the Last--Plant of a Species!

As I said before, Customs role is simply to make sure the Cdn gov't gets their $ (GST) on everything you bought outside the country.

Whereas the CFIA's role is to make sure foreign organisms and soils and crap don't get in and contaminate our Canadian crops (like Palms, ha ha).

I'm still waiting for all the paperwork for my Wollemi from Australia...the thing should be 10 feet tall before it arrives, ha ha.
And yup, all that paperwork costs $$$$.

Hope you get a palm the size you want.
Barb
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Post by Arctic Palm »

lucky1,

I hope so to. Eventually palms will be common place in parts of our country (other than Victoria island). We will figure out how to protect them properly and cheaply or someone will create a super palm somehow.
Until then, we have to sneak them across the border.
Oh and believe me, the Gov't and border is just as stupid here!!
Barrie

Post by Barrie »

"(other than Victoria island)."

I guarantee there are no palms on Victoria Island ... it's located north of the Arctic circle.
Here an info link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Island

Cheers, Barrie.
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Larger palms

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

ARCTIC PALM,

Like I said..I have been bringing in smaller specimen's etc..from the south...its been no big deal...

I would suggest to you that you bring in small palms-2 feet or so...

I wouldn't lug a large plant back unless I got it for nothing or dirt cheap...just in case you have prob's...

I kind of acclimatized (did I spell that correct) my hardy palms..They are planted apart and in raised beds..

This July I'm meeting up with my family in Columbia S/Carolina..I'm looking at getting a few sabal's...

What town are you in?

Palmettoman Z6-Ajax, On
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Post by Arctic Palm »

Barrie,

I meant Vancouver island. Whatever! You know what I meant.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Wes North Van
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Allen

Post by Wes North Van »

You would think that nurseries would be full of sabal minors, a species of palm that is totally hardy here but instead they load up with CIDP and washies that will not survive without protection. We can't get needles here either another species that is fool proof here.
It just doesn't make sense.
At least there are lots of trachies and c. humilis that can survive here.
Wes North Vancouver Zone 8b/9a
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Alchris
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Post by Alchris »

The nurseries here won't stock anything that is warmer than zone 4.

But I found a 5' Livistonia chinensis at Home Depot as well as Yucca elephantites and Musa Zebrina at Walmart.

I am still looking for 5 to 10 gallon Sabal minors as well as a Butia capitata that is about 5 ' tall with little or no trunk. I have had no luck finding a Mazari palm that is larger than 1 gallon.

If I find some Sabals I will let you know.

Allen
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Post by Laaz »

There is a nursery here that always has Butia's that are 6-7 ft total height for about $100 each. Drove by yesterday & they probably had about 30 of them.
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Alchris
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Post by Alchris »

That is wonderful, Laaz.

But will they ship them to western Canada with a phytosanitary certificate?

If all that it cost was $100 US each for shipping, I would take 5 or more.

Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
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Post by nlafrance3 »

Allen,

Sorry I can't go down with you to Kelowna and Vancouver. I'm actually going to Vancouver may long weekend, but I'm flying. The problem is I'm landscaping and need to work all the days I can to make up for all the rain days we get. I was hoping to get those 15 gallon butia's from Vancouver but the only way thats possible is to find a courier that will ship something that size. I didn't think it would be such a hassle but maybe you know of a company that would do it. They are a good price and he will ship if we find someone that will do it. I am trying to germinate some mazari's right now so hopefully that will work out but I know you want bigger ones. We need to find someone who will deliver from the states. I'm thinking jungle music because they ship to Vancouver all the time and they have many palms of all different sizes. But thats all for now I guess.

ps. What would you do with 5 large butia's? Planning to cover them with heavy mummy wrapping or just let them die? Or have them in pots and bring em inside?
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Alchris
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Post by Alchris »

Hey Nate; Long time no see.

First of all, I was going to talk you into buying 1 or 2. :lol:

Then I would find one more palm nut in Edmonton and keep 2 for myself.

I still plan on building knock down insulated greenhouses for the front of my house and the south side of my garage. If I put Sabals by the garage, I won't need to heat that one. The others will be heated with heat tapes and enclose the Butias, Livistonia and my small Trachies, Washies and Sabals.

Like you, I want to see a decent size palm growing in Edmonton.

Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
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