The low temperatures experienced this week in Georgia may have been damaging to
other palms, but not the needle palm. This plant can be found growing as far north as
Boston with protection and without protection in Washington, D.C. Accounts vary, but established needle
palms are reported to be hardy to as low as -15 degrees. Therefore, they can be grown
throughout Georgia, even in the mountains.
Needle palm will maintain a shrubby habit slowly expanding to its mature
size. The plant gets its name from the nasty 6-inch (or larger) sharp needles
that grow from the crown of the plant. As long as you don't reach into
the center base of the plant, you'll be fine.
Use needle palm as an evergreen accent or for a tropical look in a partial shade area, around pools,
near ponds or at the edge of a woodland garden. It can also be grown in containers. Good companion
plants include Autumn fern, Christmas fern, hostas, hellebores, azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias.
Although I have seen or purchased this plant from the nurseries below, I cannot guarantee that they
will have it in stock at the time this newsletter is published.
