Revision as of 17:43, 22 September 2016

Copernicia macroglossa is a very marginal palm for California despite it's growing quite well and showing some impressive cold hardiness on the east coast. It just happens to be one of many palms that have poor 'cool tolerance', i.e... prolonged periods of cool weather (such as sub 40s). In zone 9b in Florida, some can get this palm up to a fairly large size before it ultimately succumbs to their periodic deep freezes. But temps down into the freezing range seem to have little effect upon it, as long as it heats up quickly soon after. Some California growers have managed to eke this one along year after year, and in Palm Desert there is even one of good size. However, this plant seems to be restricted to the nearly frost free inland deserts or the small pockets of 'perfect' weather in the southern tip of the state (warm zone 10bs). Grown well, this is a spectacular as well as curious plant.