Fast Growing Cold Hardy Palm Trees

If you are looking for a fast growing palm tree that thrives in harsh climates, then you will want to look into the McCurtain County palm. This species is native to high deserts of Oklahoma and Arkansas, but it is hardy in zone four, making it a great choice for the winter gardener in Ohio. The leaves are blue-tipped and leathery, making them attractive in the winter garden.
Mexican Fan Palm

The Mexican Fan Palm is a tropical tree native to Baja California and northern Mexico. It is characterized by tufts of palm fronds growing from a bare trunk. Although the plant can tolerate temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit, it is considered a fire hazard and homeowners in California and many other areas of the country are required to remove dead leaves. They grow up to 100 feet tall and are hardy to Zones 8b-11.
Pindo palm

The Pindo palm is a cold-hardy tropical palm tree. It has a blue-gray sheen to its fronds and small, inward curving flowers. Pindo palms will grow to only 15 feet tall, but they will spread that far. The flowers are pollinated by wind and insects. Pindo palm trees produce edible, round fruits called dates. Their ripe fruit is one inch in diameter and is edible.
Windmill palm

Depending on the location, some palms are more hardy than others. A good example is the McCurtain County palm, which is native to the high deserts of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Its short trunk and blue-tipped leaves make it an excellent choice for winter gardening. This palm will tolerate temperatures as low as four degrees Fahrenheit, making it a great choice for gardens with variable climates.
Cabbage palm

A fast growing cold hardy cabbage palm tree is an excellent addition to any garden. This large, robust palm has a single, unbranching trunk that grows up to 50 feet high. The leaves are large and fan-shaped, and the fruit is a shiny, black spherical seed that is edible to raccoons and squirrels. Its squat, upright trunk is easy to grow and will thrive in most conditions.
Dwarf palmetto

The scientific name of dwarf palmetto is Sabal minor. This palm tree is native to North America, including the southern states of Florida and Georgia, as well as Northeast Mexico. This fast-growing palm tree is more resistant to cold than needle palms and can survive temperatures below 0F. It grows up to five to six feet tall, and has a V-shaped split in the middle. The flower spikes are small, white, and bisexual. The plant’s flowers are borne on branches that grow three to six feet long.
Puerto Rican thatch palm

A hardy and fast growing palm tree, the Puerto Rican Thatch palm has smooth, bulbous trunks covered with overlapping, frond-like leaves. Its foliage is blue-green on top and silver/white beneath. The leaflets are 1-2 ft long. The flowers grow on a branched inflorescence, followed by fleshy white fruit. This fast-growing palm grows best in USDA Zones 10a (30 to 35 degrees F) and prefers a partial shade environment.
Caranday palm

The Caranday Palm is a rare, fast-growing palm tree that has small, white flowers at the base of the crown shaft. Originating in Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, it is a hardy palm tree that can grow in USDA zones 9 to 11. Its single gray trunk is cylindrical in shape, and the leaves are palm-like, with large, toothed margins.