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Winter plant advice
DYL
Posts: 67
I have what I think maybe a Mexican fan palm and wondered if I need to protect both the trunk and the leaves?
I also have a Trachycarpus Fortunei and am wondering the same thing, does it need protection?
Final question, should a Phormium in a terracotta pot be protected?
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Posts
Hi dyl, i can't help you with the winter problem but just wanted to say what a pretty palm you have there, if it is winter hardy i would like one myself ?
It depends on where you are and how exposed your garden is to cold, wet and wind as well as what soil you have. Some plants are better able to cope with cold if they are in well-drained soil and don't have frozen or soggy roots all winter.
I've never protected Phormiums - in any kind of pot, of any size. They're much tougher than people think. It has to be prolonged periods of severe frost for them to suffer. We've already had five or six frosts (air and ground) but nothing below about minus three and they're perfectly fine with that, and a few degrees more.
As Obelixx says though - keeping plants in pots on the drier side will help if you're in a wet, cold area. I tend to tuck mine against walls if possible, but they're also fine in among other evergreens in a border as that gives them protection. Exposure to wind and rain shreds them a bit, but I cut the rough foliage off in spring to allow the new growth to come through.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I‘m close to Cambridge east of England, so we don’t get lots of rain and it’s certainly one of the warmer parts of the country.
My soil is alkaline and drains very well. The garden is pretty well protected from the winds.
Ironically , 'Fan' Palms are very susceptible to wind damage
, so any protection , especially from strong cold 'easterlies' would be a boon !