Trachy from Canada or Florida?

[F1aReD]

I am wondering if it matters what type of climate your palm grew up in, or where it is from. A lot of people will say "If you buy a Trachy from Canada it will be more ready to handle the cold than if you bought it from Florida, or some other type of warm enviroment" And then there are people who say a Cold hardy palm is a cold hardy palm, you can't change its genetics it is what it is. Some people swear by buying certain varieties that have endured a bout of harsh cold, then taking those seeds it produces because they believe it will be like it's parent.<br>

My question is, is this true? As I browse EBAY, all these palms I see are from Florida, California, Georgia, South Carolina...I have not seen ONE from Vancouver or Washington state. Or even N.C. or Maryland.

[TerdalFarm]

I have no idea, but am also curious.
As for price, I assume it is less expensive here in the U.S. to grow them fast in Florida or Texas and then truck them up here.
If larger = more hardy, then a 5-gallon potted palm from Florida might be hardier than a one-gallon palm from Oklahoma, at the same price. But I don't know.
As with you, I'd appreciate hearing from folks with more experience.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

I know that the infamous "blue pot" palms at HD/Lowes/etc are from Florida, and (genetic?) research on them has been done by a guy on the HPS board. He tested needle palms, and concluded that the blue pots are not as hardy as those grown in more northern areas, and the palms would need to take a few years to "harden off" and be as hardy as northern needles.

[TerdalFarm]

I have anecdotal evidence on blue pot needles, from Home Depot. I planted a 7 gallon and two 3 gallon sizes last April.
Very cheap--impulse purchase costs. Looked nice all summer. I protected them, but no electric heat.
As of now, one small one appears dead and the other looks fantastic and is growing already. The big one has a nice-looking pup; the main spear has not pulled but is iffy.
So, are they quality? No. Are they cheap? Yes. Will I buy more? Yes. The one that looks fabulous after record cold makes up for the other two.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

If we had them as an option, I'd still be buying them too!