Sochi Russia palm trees?

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Here is an article I found while doing some research on the winter Olympics for Vancouver 2010. It seems funny that they are talking with great surprise that Sochi Russia winter Olympics 2014 has palm trees growing by the sea. The same situation as Vancouver. I don`t think I`ve heard one comment about the palms growing in Vancouver and the south coastal area and the Olympics 2010. Seems they will accept palms growing in Russia but not B.C.? Maybe they need to come in the summer and stroll the beach at English bay in Vancouver?

www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUS ... 1820071002

John

[Paul Ont]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alisa7248/728673495/
Looks like Sochi is 1 to 1.5 USDA zones warmer then Vancouver. A very unlikely place to host the winter 'olympics'... Yes, that is a Phoenix of some kind in that picture. Well established and very happy. I would love to see palms that beautiful in Vancouver, maybe in 50 years with global warming they can rip out the T. fortunei at English Bay and replace them with Washingtonias, Queen palms and Phoenix!!!

[lucky1]

Wow, that's a beautiful pic that Paul posted of Sochi from Flickr.

Our Okanagan summers are hotter than ever. If only global warming would produce
milder winters (regularly and reliably), we could do it.

Barb

[Barrie]

There are 3 Phoenix canariensis and 3 Butia capitata in that photo. I have both types in my garden, Butia being the hardier of the 2 genus.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Paul Ont]

Barrie! If you look close you can see 4 Butia and 3 Phoenix (ha!)
How long have you had your Phoenix planted? Do they take the winters there well? I assumed they would behave similar to Washingtonia filifera, which according to Banana Joe don't do well over the winter on Salt Spring...

You're on the island right? I'm guess that Sochi is 9a at the lowest, based on the flora, I know that Tofino is considered 9a, is Victoria as well? Am I wrong that Vancouver is 8a?

Also, will you please plant a Bismarckia?

Cheers,
Paul

[Barrie]

Apon even closer inspection I see 4 of each!
Anyway ... Yes Tofino is a 9a but with very little summer heating. Many parts of Victoria are 9a mixed with 8b. I'm 8b here in Lantzville and there's scattered pockets of 9a around Nanaimo and south along the SE coast of the Island.

Joe's right about Washingtonia filifera, lousy here but robusta seems better suited although still requires some protection.
Phoenix canariensis is also a decent candidate that needs overhead protection.
I've had mine in for three years and it's now begining to pick up speed. I've never added any heat just a canopy to keep the winter elements off.

BISMARKIA ? ... highly unlikely even after a hundred years of steady global warming. I had one once and it crapped out at 40°f (5°c).


Cheers, Barrie.

[Andriy]

Most northern palms in that area (Black Sea) grow in South Crimea, Ukraine. It's zone 7b. However, 99% of Crimean palms are usual trachies, Trachycarpus fortunei.

[DesertZone]

very cool

[serj]

Hi, guys! In my opinion, southen Crimea mostly is USDA zone 8b. Sochi is zone 9a-9b.

[DesertZone]

Hi, guys! In my opinion, southen Crimea mostly is USDA zone 8b. Sochi is zone 9a-9b.

Good info, thanks

[ROBRETI]

Hi all,

I went to Sochi when being a kid - and when I could travel only to the "friendly socialist" countries . As far as I remember, I almost suffocated, it was so hot and humid in the summer. The town was full of Albizias, Cedrus deodaras and Trachycarpuses. Not far from Sochi, along the Black Sea coast, tangerine is grown and Eucalyptus globulus is used to dry up marshland.... The coastline is more like humid subtropics than Mediterranean. Rain si pretty frequent. Even tea is grown here!!! Up in the mountains, but still under the influence of the sea, you can stroll in evergreen Boxwood forests (about 10-15 m tall trees!!!!!)

There is one bamboo species int eh botanical gardens, which grows abotu 15-30 cm (1') a day.... No wonder that ancient Chinese torture methods included a simple technique of laying someone above a bamboo for a while (by next day the bamboo grew through him, ouch!)

As for the zoning, it could be 9 a/b... What a choice for winter Olympics!?!

Robert