Palms in Sitka, AK

Estiva · Post by **Estiva** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:14 pm

There are palms rumored to alive (and well?) growing in Alaska's panhandle around the Sitka area. At first thought it seems ridiculous, but considering the affect of the ocean, are they zone 6/7? They're probably T. Fortuneis. Anyway, does anyone have any pics or links to pics--I would love to see them.

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:40 pm

I've read articles in Hardy Palm International about those palms an seen the pics. My scanner is on the fritz so I can't post a pic but here's the address and phone number.

120 Katlian St.
Sitka, AK 99835-7585
Phone: (907) 747-3213
Fax: (907) 747-2115

Cheers, Barrie.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:55 pm

If these are the ones I have seen in HPI they are very close to a brick building. A very good microclimate.

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:40 pm

are there really palms in alaska?? any pics??

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:07 pm

Yes there are palms in Alaska.
Google it and I am sure you will see the pics.

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:10 pm

I looked....no luck!

banana joe · Post by **banana joe** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:55 pm

They were both planted in 1992 by Palm Society member J.D. Rowell of Sacramento, Cal. They are T.fortunei growing up close to a building in a good microclimate. They have been featured a couple of times over the years in HPI. They were featured last year in one of our journals and they look awesome! It is much milder than you think along the Alaska panhandle. When I was up that was a few years ago, I photographed huge Rhodos in Ketchican. Cheers, Joe

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:51 am

amazing.

leapfrog · Post by **leapfrog** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:08 pm

Not that I'm saying it ain't so, but this sounds like it might be an urban myth to me. Don't you think that if there were someone on the Alaska panhandle who has had success in growing Trachys that there might be a picture somewhere?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:54 pm

I belive some of the southern coastal areas of Alaska are on the warmer side of a zone 7, in a warm micro climate a trachy should have no probelm living there.

I know where 2 very nice trachies are in Idaho in a zone 6b and if you do a search it is almost impossible to find recent pics or any pics.

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:26 pm

I stumbled onto the most recent picture I have of the Sitka Alaska windmill palms. The info with the photo states ... "Planted in1992 they have had winter damage but nothing serious yet. Likely the most northerly palms in North America."
Photo credit is to JD Rowell. I had to take a picture of the image (scanner not working) so the quality is lacking.
This is from the Nov. 2005 issue of HPI.

Cheers, Barrie.

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:12 am

Thanks for the pic. Is the building wall stone or stucco?

Allen

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:08 am

As impressive as it is that there are palms in Alaska, it's still a zone 7, right? The palms wouldn't be exposed to temperatures that cold. As cool as it is to say 'there are palms in Alaska', if you know about ocean currents, it's not too suprising! Personally, I'm more impressed with people in Wisconsin or at high elevations in the American southwest growing palms in zones 3-6...
I think that the palms in Colorado Springs(zone 5b) are the most impressive. These are grown with minimal protection in a very harsh climate!
Here is a link to the site, if you haven't seen it:
http://hometown.aol.com/fitzroya/myhome ... oking.html
Now those are some TOUGH palms!
Perhaps this section should be renamed 'Coldest Palms"??? What do you think?

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:30 am

Thank you for the information Paul.

The area where I was going to put Sabal minor is in permanent shade, from the house, for most of the winter due to the angle of the sun. According to the website that you provided, sunburn is a major problem with cold weather and the S. minor.

The Sabal minor withstood short term temperatures of -16F/-25*C. If I provide snow cover and shade it may survive here. And if I provide mulch and wrapping it should survive.

No extra power bill????

Allen

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:13 pm

According to this map, Sitka Alaska is in zone 8. There must be very low light levels in winter at 57 degrees north latitude.

Cheers, Barrie.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:36 am

Thanks for the pic Barrie.
On bad days, bet they've got the heating cranked and that basement window open (I know I would!)

Paul, having trouble getting into the aol link.
Will look later.

Sitka is in Zone EIGHT?

And I'm a 5b, maybe 6

That's not fair

BTW if everyone's as bored as I am now that it's January, we can have some fun
with a Palm Trivia and/or a You Know You're a Palm Nut When... posting(s)
Will do a new post on Northern Palms OK?
Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:32 am

Found a gardener's website in Alaska that's cool
http://home.gci.net/~goodgame/

I emailed them and asked if they know of a Trachy growing in Alaska.
He said he hadn't heard of one, but he'll check into it.
Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:04 am

Received an email reply from the gardener in Alaska:

According to my friend the palm would probably grow in Ketchikan and Southeast.

I've asked him to let us know if he hears any more about it.
Barb

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