Poolside Palm Selection for Zone 9b: Beyond Queens & Foxtails

Original: Designing backyard pool area. Had queens—tall care difficult. Like Sylvester but no space. Probably pygmy dates. Want other palms, like foxtail, but zone 9b (East Central FL)—mixed reviews, local suppliers say risky. Thoughts?

Follow-up: Pygmy dates held up well. Want taller palms besides queens. Like arecas but yellow after frost. Other ideas? Can foxtails be protected?

Expert Advice

Agree: foxtails/Christmas palms cold risk in 9b; Sylvesters spread wide with dangerous spikes. Pygmy dates good for cold tolerance/size but high maintenance/thorny. Arecas easy/cheap, cold-stung but regrow from ground—others usually die.

Yes, protect foxtails: wrap heart (green below lower fronds) with quality frost fabric (N-sulate), clamp flood lamp above heart pointing up into fronds (no contact), cover soil with thick mulch/blanket. Turn lamp on at bedtime when freeze threatened. Radiates heat, fabric insulates heart, mulch insulates roots. Worth it for $300–400 palm.