How do Chinese Windmill Palms survive in hot-summer climates? (irrigation, growing, trees)

[Sun Belt-lover L.A.M.]

I thought they didn't do well in hot-summer climates? Yet looking around street view in downtown Dallas, I saw a couple seemingly healthy ones in the shade. I saw one in a shady spot in Charleston, SC in person when I went. I've also heard that there are a few in the Oklahoma City zoo, too. I'm pretty sure they need some shade to thrive anywhere that's not a far northern region (somewhere like coastal Norway), though.

How do they thrive in hot-summer climates? I know Dallas has the clay soil that they like, but Charleston doesn't even have that, and I've seen multiple dead ones throughout Middle Tennessee despite clay soil (and in one case despite adequate shading too). As for watering, that wouldn't be needed often in humid climates to establish, and it wouldn't be likely to save them from too much heat (it's like trying to save dying pansies in summer in the subtropics, or Norway Spruce where it's too hot). I'm pretty sure I've heard multiple times that they need mild-summer climates to thrive.

[flamingGalah!]

Trachycarpus fortunei do better in cooler climates, but they can take high temperatures. They grow here with hot Mediterranean summers, but they don't look great. In hot summer areas they often have thinner trunks & a tighter more compact crown & if they don't get adequate irrigation also fairly ratty looking leaves. In hotter climates they would do better in at least partial shade than full sun.

[Sun Belt-lover L.A.M.]

Originally Posted by flamingGalah!

Trachycarpus fortunei do better in cooler climates, but they can take high temperatures. They grow here with hot Mediterranean summers, but they don't look great. In hot summer areas they often have thinner trunks & a tighter more compact crown & if they don't get adequate irrigation also fairly ratty looking leaves. In hotter climates they would do better in at least partial shade than full sun.

So about what I was thinking too.

And I wonder whether winter means could have something to do with it for OKC? Although OKC gets cold snaps about like Nashville, the winter means there are almost 40F and average highs are 50F+ in all months (so almost as warm as Memphis and about as warm as Virginia Beach, but more volatile a bit colder at night).

[Isleofpalms85]

Palms in general usually thrive in climates with mild winters, I think winter cold is more of a limiting factor in growing palm trees than summer heat usually is.