Sabal, Bluestem Palmetto, Blue Palm, Dwarf Palmetto 'McCurtain'

This palm survives beautifully in Salt Lake City, Utah (zone 7b) and surrounding areas in 7a completely unprotected! This is one of the f...Read Moreew palms you can grow in central and northern Utah without protection long term. Sabal minor ‘Mccurtain’ tends to be pretty slow growing though, even in warmer areas. This palm LOVES the 90-100+ F heat in the summer here, but needs ample water! If you live on the west coast in (7a) and above try this palm out! You could also very likely get away with this in zone 6 with protection in winter.

I got two 7gal specimens and planted them in my exposed front lawn 5 years ago (z7a coastal CT with cool springs). They receive no prote...Read Morection at all from blizzards and wind, and even though the fronds get some damage, they have always come back, and this year one of them even bloomed and developed fruits. They may not look their best without protection, but they definitely survive to flower and bear fruit.

They are slow growers though; they put out max 2 fronds a season, and start growing late in the spring.

Someone in Northern Florida gave me seed from mature plants that he said were sold to him as 'McCurtain.' He has several other Sabal mino...Read Morer types in his garden so who knows what genetics went into this seed. They all germinated easily and were grown for a year to a full one gallon size before they were planted in the garden in full sun in exposed areas. Their first winter in the ground was the coldest in 30 years here. They survived but all growth above the ground was fried. They pushed new growth over the summer. Three years later, they are now all about 2' or so tall and bushy. They get no winter protection and usually have some pinhole cold damage and tearing from winter winds each year. By mid-summer they have regrown fresh leaves. I think I can expect flowers for the first time this year. Fun novelty in the garden but without protection from cold wind and winter sun when the ground is frozen, not really worth the beat-up look for 5 months of the year. Neutral rating because not sure if my plants are truly 'McCurtain.' If they are, I wouldn't say that type is any more cold tolerant than other Sabal minor.

I planted two of these palms in the spring of 2012. They took some damage in their first winter in ground but retained a significant amo...Read Moreunt of green foliage. The plants recovered quickly and looked good by summer.

Hopefully the plants have acclimated and will do even better this year. I definitely recommend heavy mulching and wind protection for zone 6 in year one and perhaps beyond. Good palm to try in this zone. I believe long term it can do well.
Update Summer of 2016
My Sabal Minor McCurtains are still going strong. One has even produced flowers and fruit for the first time!