Thanks. Worth being aware of - http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/triple-nectar-points-purchases-with-homebase-until-20-april-2432486

In the description it says that these can be grown outdoors in the UK during the Summer which I think might lead some people to think that this could be used as a house plant. Its a tree and they grow massive very quickly. We grow them here in Torquay and I'll post a few pics to show you how big these grow here:


This one is quite young look how little trunk it has and yet its already a monster.


This one on the seafront is not as massive but was brought in from abroad already semi-mature.


This one near Torquay train station gives you an idea of how they look when mature.


These mature one's are growing on an island off Cornwall.

These have to be planted outdoors in an area where they have plenty of room. Unless you live in an exceptionally mild micro-climate like Torbay, or on the south coast of Devon and Cornwall, Portsmouth, Southsea, or Central London due to its heat-island effect etc I wouldn't bother. They can't handle temps that drop below -5/-6C and if you have ice days where you live where the temperature drops below zero at night and then doesn't rise above zero during the daytime that will kill them stone dead.

Its a good deal but its only really valid in places that have temps that rarely fall below zero and when they do it only lasts a few hours.

Beautiful trees that remind me of the sunshine state of Florida

I had several of these killed in the severe winter of 2010 - one particular was many years in the ground with 3.5m fronds. Not as cold hardy as they say.

I planted this last year. It didn't survive winters.

Hi Dave. I'm very familiar with this type of palm as we grow a lot of them here and I would hate anyone to buy one and have a long run of mild winters where they watch it grow and then a bad winter comes along and it will die. There's not really many places in the UK where you can grow these.

If people want an exotic tree in their garden I would'nt even plant Cordyline Australis (Torbay Palm) as they can be cut down too. Yucca believe it or not is actually what people in the UK should plant. Yucca Gloriosa for instance which is widely available can handle temperatures of -20C without even any leaf damage. So something like that would be hardy in most of the UK.

Are palms really all trees ? Thought they were palm plants owing to its fibrous interior ; not like a tree in that respect .

I've grown cordylines here in yorkshire for years.they overwinter very well. i wrap them for winter which takes only 10 minutes and they give a smashing med look to your garden. also agree about the yuccas. trachycarpus fortunei are excellent for the uk climate. i have quite a few of different sizes in pots, and even the small ones survive winter outside. if you're willing to put the effort in, musa basjoo (banana tree) will grow from mar/april until october and look great, but need good protection for winter.

edit:
just been out for a quick look in the garden. anyone wanting the tropical look should also try phormiums.

purchased one of these yesterday along with a weeping willow which they were also selling half price at £10.

£4 the other day in home bargains in the penny lane branch in Liverpool,same size. Maybe other branches also.

I bought 2 last year

[quote=redtony68] i didn't vote but £4 the other day in home bargains in the penny lane branch in Liverpool,same size. Maybe other branches also.

I bought 2 last year

Thanks - smal Trachycarpus fortunei (chusan palm) on offer £9.99 at Waitrose - http://www.waitrosegarden.com/plants/_/trachycarpus-fortunei/classid.2000026436/?gclid=COnh5rOKncwCFUI_GwodDkENBQ&gclsrc=aw.ds