Podocarpus (Southern Yew)

Podocarpus is a shrub or tree that is an evergreen conifer that grows in the warmer side of temperate to tropical climates. The most cold hardy Podocarpus can be in some species is to USDA Zone 7. That would be right around the 0°F mark. Even there it may suffer winter damage. While some species can take little to no freezing temps whatsoever. The popular dwarf variety is the "Pringles Dwarf" used as hedges in the deep South. It is hardy to USDA Zone 8 (10°F to 20°F) to 11 (above 40°F). This variety will only mature to 5' tall by 5' wide at maturity, but can be pruned to keep at a smaller desired size. One new exotic and perhaps the only blue podacarpus is the "Icee Blue" variety. This variety is hardy in USDA Zones 9 (20°F to 30°F) to 11 (above 40°F). It is basically the Blue Spruce of the south.

There are lots more varieties, like the weeping variety, and others that can be more like trees. Make sure to check what zone you live in before getting Podocarpus. If you don't live where it can grow, Podocarpus makes fabulous houseplants! They thrive in indirect sunlight, but can adapt to full sun outside. Very water wise and can go almost 2 weeks without water when mature enough as houseplants. When young, they may need watering once every few days. They tolerate dry air/low humidity quite well. They also are amazing as bonsai, very easy to work with, and great for beginners!

NatureMan

Most Cold Hardy Palms

1. McCurtain Sabal Minor Palm
Native exclusivly to McCurtain County Oklahoma. It is the farthest north you can find wild Palms in the world! Seedlings have survived temps as low as -20°F with little damage.

2. Needle Palm
This Palm native to the southern US has a native range extending from South Florida to central Alabama and central Georgia. The Needle Palm is hardy between -10°F to -15°F when mature.

3. Chinese Windmill Palm
Native to mountain sides in China this Palm is hardy to 5°F. Can survive near 0°F but damage foliage is likely. Best survival chances are above 5°F.

4. Cabbage Palmetto
This Palm is the Native throughout floirda (excluding parts of the panhandle( and extends to southern North Carolina. The Cabbage Palmetto is hardy between 8°F to 10°F. Below that severe damage or death occurs.

5. Canary Island Date Palm
This Palm is found native to the Canary Islands.
This Palm tree is hardy to between 10°F to 15°F.

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Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress is a deciduous Conifer. A conifer meaning porduces cones (like a Pine, Spruce, Cedar...) But it isn't evergreen like others it drops it's needles in the Fall. It has the most wide range of growing climates than most other trees. It's native range extends from southern Florida and the most dominant tree in the Everglades, to Southern Indiana and Delaware. In its southern growing areas it can growing alongside Palm trees! The Bald Cypress is hardy to -30°F. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-10. Meaning this tree can grow in a subtropical climate to a cool temperate climate. Trees have been successfully grown in Canada like Toronto for example. In it's southern growing areas the coldest temperature it may ever experience is the freezing point. Meaning Bald Cypress in the Everglades or in Miami will go dormant with temps in the 40s, and may only a few times into there lifetimes experience temps near freezing. Specimens grown up north see temps below zero everywinter with plentiful snow. The Bald Cypress is an amazing tree with a wide range of growing conditions. It grows in the swamps and wetlands in many of it's native habitats, but is surprisingly drought tolerant. It has moderate drought tolerance. It may not survive desert dryness, but can grow in dryer areas, with some drought periods in summer.

Summer in October?!

Yes, it is October and it's been between 85°F-90°F everyday for nearly a week now. This is normal for this time of year in Alabama, not Indiana. Average high is in the upper 60s and the average low is around 40. Today and tomorrow will be in the mid 80s before true Fall takes over. This is extremely rare, and we were only a few degrees away from breaking all time records for several days in a row. The average peak time for Fall foliage is mid October. It is almost mid October and non of the tree have changed. This year it will be late October into early November for the peak. This is the average peak time for Georgia. This is good evidence of climate change. This is the second year in a row where Fall has come very late. But that doesn't mean Winter will be mild just because Fall came late. The first frost of the season is expected this week! I am ready!!! 🍁🍂 Here is my own made NatureMan forecast. I wanted to share this rare weather that is almost never seen.