survived north to the Ohio River, with several long term plantings in the higher elevations of Tennessee and western North Carolina. It is rated as winter hardy to USDA zone 7. It appears that areas west of the Mississippi River (the southern Plains) may be too hot in summer for successful long term cultivation. Thus, Windmill palms are the most cold and cool summer hardy of all the palms, although absolute minimum temperature may be exceeded by needle Palms, Sabal minor, as well as very brief nighttime cold exposure to desert palms. Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis) - Native to the island of Madagascar off the east coast of Africa this cold hardy palm is among the most sought after palms in Florida mainly due to its unique grey color and ability to withstand temperatures down to . This palm thrives in any sub-tropical environment. You will see this palm tree in states such as: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Texas. It is a very fast growing palm, and can go from in just 5 years in the right environment. During late spring the tree will produce small, fragrant flowers. Once fully matured, it can reach heights of up to in the wild, however most do not exceed . This palm produces sharp thorns on the frond stalks, so one must take proper precautions while pruning. Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) – The only palm native to southern Europe besides the Cretan Date Palm, and very drought-tolerant. Hardy to , but does prefer hot summers. Despite the fact that this palm is less hardy than many palms listed here, it has the northernmost native habitat. It is rated as winter hardy to USDA zone 8. It is found in abundance across most of southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. It is a very slow-growing plant. The blue form of the species (cerifera), native to high elevations of the Atlas Mountains, has recently been introduced into the trade and early reports indicate that it may be or more degrees hardier than the green form. Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) – This clustering and usually trunkless palm is native to the subtropical southeastern United States, from central Florida to Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Alabama in the United States. It is considered hardy to -23.3 C (-10 F), and is cultivated along the East Coast from Florida to southern Massachusetts, and