Even With Cold Hardy Palms. Protection is Still Key

While the sight of a palm tree covered in snow is impressive, even the most cold-hardy varieties need attention in their first few years in the ground, and during extreme cold snaps. For Atlanta, we rely on the following cold-tolerant species:

  • Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei): Our most popular cold-hardy palm. Its established trunk can handle our low temperatures. Winterizing Tip: Focus on wrapping the crown (the developing fronds at the top) with burlap or frost cloth for new transplants, and securing the fronds upright to protect the vulnerable growing bud.

  • Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix): The undisputed champion of cold-hardiness. This shrub-like palm rarely needs protection once established, making it a low-maintenance favorite for Georgia gardens.

  • Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor): Another native, extremely hardy palm. Like the Needle Palm, established plants are often left alone, but a good layer of pine straw mulch helps insulate the roots.

  • Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta): While stunning, this is a marginally hardy palm in Atlanta and will require aggressive winter protection below 32 degrees (heavy wrapping, heating cable, etc.) every single year to survive.

  • Important Note: Palms like the Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii) are simply not hardy in our climate. They must be grown in containers and brought into a garage or indoors once temperatures dip below 40°F.

Palm Type

Hardiness in Zone 7b/8a

Key Winter Focus

Windmill Palm

Excellent (especially established)

Protect the vulnerable central crown/bud.

Needle Palm

Exceptional (requires minimal effort)

Root zone protection with deep mulch.

Mexican Fan Palm

Marginal (requires extreme effort)

Full wrapping + supplemental heat required.

🍌 Tropical Treasures: Bananas & Elephant Ears

While palms are about hardiness, these beautiful giants are about root/corm protection.

1. Banana Plants (Especially 'Ice Cream' and Hardy Varieties)

Your huge banana plant (Musa) will have its above-ground leaves and pseudostem destroyed by the first hard freeze. This is completely normal!

  • The Wait: Let the first hard freeze do its job. The leaves will turn brown and mushy. They continue to send energy back to the corm (the underground root-bulb) as long as they are still attached.

  • The Cut: After the freeze, cut the pseudostem (the trunk-like structure) down to about 2-3 feet tall.

  • The Insulate: Pile a thick layer (12–18 inches!) of mulch, shredded leaves, or pine straw around the cut stem and over the base. The goal is to keep the corm from freezing solid. The plant will regrow vigorously from the corm in the spring.

2. Elephant Ears (Colocasia and Alocasia)

Elephant Ears are generally not reliably winter-hardy in Atlanta if left exposed. You have two excellent options:

  • Dig and Store (Safest Bet): After the first frost kills the leaves, cut the stems back, dig up the corms (bulbs), allow them to air-dry for a few days, and then store them in a box of peat moss or dry newspaper in a cool, dark, and non-freezing location (like a garage or basement).

  • In-Ground Protection (Mild Winter Risk): Cut the stems down and cover the area with a massive pile of insulating material (e.g., a foot of pine straw). This method can be successful in milder 8a areas or mild years, but is riskier during a severe cold snap.

💪 The Secret Weapon: Pre-Winter Vigor with SuperThrive

Before you apply the mulch and wrap your plants, give them the best possible chance of surviving the dormant period by boosting their internal strength!

SuperThrive is a renowned plant tonic containing essential vitamins and hormones, including Vitamin B-1 and Kelp. While it is not a fertilizer, it is an excellent supplement that helps plants manage stress—and surviving winter is a major stress event!

Applying a dose of SuperThrive a few weeks before the first expected freeze can:

  1. Reduce Stress: Help your palms and tropicals cope with the shock of cold, wind, and the eventual winter wrapping.

  2. Support Root Health: Encourage a robust root system, which is crucial for nutrient and water uptake when growth resumes in the spring.

Use a dose when you stop fertilizing in the fall. You can find this powerful tonic right here: Buy SuperThrive Here! (Amazon Affiliate Link)

📝 Final Winter Checklist for Atlanta

  • Check the Forecast: Wrap plants before the first predicted sub 30°F night.

  • Avoid Plastic: Only use breathable materials like burlap or specialized frost cloth for wrapping trunks and crowns. Plastic traps moisture and promotes rot. Moving blankets are easy

  • Water deeply the night before cold weather, the water off your house is around 45 degrees.
  • NO FERTILIZER 

  • Wait to Unwrap: Do not remove the protective wrapping until the danger of hard freezes is completely over (typically mid-to-late March in the Atlanta area).

By taking these simple, proactive steps, you can ensure your tropical landscape remains a stunning feature year-round!

Moving blankets from a store like Harbor Freight can go a long way!