SPECIES SURVIVABLITIY INDEX FOR MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATES

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Palmpedia is trying a new way to index the cold hardiness of palms. Categories will be created and based on the observation of a surviving species, instead of climate zones and temperatures. The simple presence of a mature specimen sends an unmistakable message of what other species of palm will survive in the same area. A mature Queen Palm in a neighborhood would indicate that any palm assumed to be hardier than a Queen should also survive. Based on this reasoning, Palmpedia will try to rank palms according to their relative hardiness. That way, spotting a mature palm will instantly provide a grower with a list of palms that will also survive in the same vicinity. It should also provide a sliding scale indicating which palms might also have a chance, and those with little hope. The survivabilty of a palm is determined by more than just an ultimate low temperature. Both Mediterranean and Subtropical climates experience periodic freezes that may kill certain palms. However, the prevailing daytime temperature, duration of freezing temperatures, and the humidity play an important role in which palms will survive. Therefore Palmpedia will devise two indices. One for Mediterranean climates, such as Southern California, that is characterized by cooler overall winter temperatures, and lower humidity. And another for Subtropical climates, such as central Florida, characterized by mild winter temperatures, and higher humidity, yet still sometime experience freezing temperatures.



SPECIES ZONE SCALE #1 - HARDY PALMS

SZS #1A: The Canary Zone

  • Sabal minor - Phoenix canariensis

SZS #1B: The Washingtonia Zone

  • Phoenix canariensis - Washingtonia robusta

SPECIES ZONE SCALE #2 - SEMI-HARDY PALMS

SZS #2A: The Queen Zone

  • Washingtonia robusta - Syagrus romanzoffiana

SZS #2B: The Pigmy Date Zone

  • Syagrus romanzoffiana - Phoenix roebelinii

SPECIES ZONE SCALE #3 - TEMPERATE PALMS

SZS #3A: The King Zone

Phoenix roebellini - Archontophoenix cunninghamia

SZS #3B: The Kentia Zone

SPECIES ZONE SCALE #4 - SUB-TROPICAL PALMS

SZS #4A: The Foxtail Zone

Howea forsteriana - Wodyetia bifurcata

SZS #4B: The Manila Zone

Wodyetia bifurcata - Adonidia merrillii

SPECIES ZONE SCALE #5 - TROPICAL PALMS

SZS #5A: The Coco Zone

Adonidia merrillii - Cocos nucifera

SZS #5B: The Lipstick Zone

Cocos nucifera - Cyrtostachys renda