|Francko (2000) reported preliminary data on first-year
survivorship and vegetative growth of coldhardy palms in SW
Ohio, U.S.A. Palm survivorship, foliar damage, and subsequent
recovery were analyzed through the 1999 growing season, the
winter of 1999–2000, and the 2000 growing season. We also
evaluated the efficacy of several published winter protection
strategies and of modified pot-planting technique in reducing
winter damage and mortality. Materials and Methods Study Sites.
Detailed geographical and climatological information about the
Miami University main campus and off-campus areas in Oxford,
southwestern Ohio were reported in Francko (2000). Winter
temperature minima data from 1989–90 through 1999–00 demonstrate
that rural areas around Oxford, including home garden palm plots
(WK sites: forest and near house; Francko 2000) are mid-Zone 6a
microhabitats. Urbanized areas (campus and the small city of
Oxford) are consistently 1.4–2.4ºC (2.5–4.3ºF) warmer and
represent Zone 6b microhabitats. Sheltered ar