Description
This clone of Sabal minor was brought to me by a good friend, Todd Blitzer, who has been growing hardy palms in Kentucky for many years. He acquired this palm while visiting Knoxville, TN, from a nursery called Beaver Creek Nursery. He was able to purchase the last palm they had available at the time. It appears this clone had been grown in the area for quite some time and had already shown itself to be exceptionally hardy.
Todd later told me he grew Sabal minor (Knoxville) in the same garden alongside other forms such as Sabal minor‘McCurtain’ and Sabal minor ‘Louisiana.’ After nearly 25 years of growing them side by side, he said that Sabal minor(Knoxville) was by far the hardiest in his garden. The other varieties would suffer severe damage or defoliation, while this selection showed little to no damage.
During our record-breaking winter vortex years ago — when many native and supposedly hardy plants were killed — this palm reportedly endured wind chills near -40°F, with actual temperatures reaching approximately -22°F. Todd observed little to no leaf burn on his plant. While I am sure it must have experienced some level of stress at those temperatures, he noted that it survived without protection for 25 years, which is unheard of for most Sabals I have grown.
I had been waiting for years to receive seeds from this exceptional clone, and last season Todd arrived with a large bag of seeds for me to grow and offer. I look forward to testing these myself in my own garden. He has reported excellent performance in both dry, shaded areas and in wetter locations near his large pond, demonstrating remarkable adaptability.
This may be one of — if not the — hardiest forms of Sabal minor available, potentially hardy to Zone 6a.
Limited stock seedlings grown in 4-inch pots.
