Welcome to Northern Tropicals, where we bring a slice of paradise to even the coldest climates. Located in Saukville, WI, we specialize in cold hardy palms like Trachycarpus fortunei, Sabal minor, Sabal palmetto, and Phoenix sylvestris. These aren't just any palms—they're the toughest, capable of withstanding colder temperatures, making it possible for you to enjoy the beauty of palms year-round, even here in northern climates.
At Northern Tropicals, we want to show people that you don't need to live in the tropics to enjoy the beauty of tropical plants. Our palms are carefully chosen for their resilience, and with a bit of winter protection, they can thrive here. Phoenix sylvestris, for example, while not as cold hardy as our other offerings, is still one of the most resilient date palms and can be a wonderful addition to your patio in summer or a cozy spot indoors under a grow light during winter. We believe that even in colder climates, palms can be an enduring part of your home, bringing warmth and beauty year after year.
How it all Began
The journey to where we are today started back in 2012 when I built my first greenhouse. After years of collecting tropical plants, I found myself running out of indoor space during the cold Wisconsin winters. Bringing plants inside was quickly becoming impractical, both in terms of space and providing them with enough light to keep them thriving. That’s when I decided to construct an outdoor greenhouse that would be heated and capable of keeping my tropicals safe through the harsh winters. This first greenhouse was a 2x4 stick-built structure with 8-foot walls and a 10-foot peak, measuring 18 feet long by 8 feet wide. At the time, it was perfect for my personal collection of tropicals and palms.
The dream of Northern Tropicals began with that first greenhouse, but it wasn’t until 2021 that I began growing palms from seed with the intent of selling them. By 2023, I needed a second greenhouse as my collection of palms for sale had grown significantly. I purchased a kit from a company called greenhousetogrow.us, and this new greenhouse was 20 feet long by 10 feet wide, with a 7-foot peak. This greenhouse became home to all my potted palms for sale, while my personal collection remained in the original stick-built greenhouse.
Fables of the Reconstruction
However, as the summer progressed, some of the palms in my personal collection began to outgrow the height of the 10-foot tall greenhouse. Faced with the choice of either tearing down the original greenhouse or modifying the newer one, I chose to raise the height of the 7-foot tall greenhouse. I disassembled it, built a 5-foot tall perimeter wall, and then reassembled the greenhouse on top of the new base, giving it a total height of 12 feet. The perimeter walls were fitted with twin-wall polycarbonate for insulation. It was a race against time as I had to complete the project before the fall frosts set in, but it was worth it to ensure my palms had the space they needed to thrive.
With the modifications complete, I moved all the sale palms back into the original stick-built greenhouse, which now had additional shelving to accommodate more plants in smaller pots. The larger greenhouse became the new home for my personal collection.
Acclimating to the Northern Climate
Our greenhouses are equipped with a complete self-regulating heating and cooling system. We use a natural gas heater to keep the palms warm during the cold months, along with a temperature-controlled intake and exhaust system to bring in cool, fresh air when needed. Additionally, we have a backup kerosene heater connected to a thermostat to ensure that if the primary heater fails, the tropicals are still protected. To withstand the Wisconsin winters, both greenhouses are anchored deeply into the ground with rebar to provide stability against strong winds and storms.
Our greenhouses are at the heart of what we do. We maintain these spaces to ensure that our palms are healthy and thriving when they find a home with you. Unlike many big box stores and nurseries that sell majesty palms—which we consider "throwaway palms" due to their inability to handle cold and their tendency to struggle indoors—we focus on palms that can truly become a part of your home for years to come. The reason these cold hardy palms aren't commonly found here might be that they take a couple of years to reach a decent size, but for us, the wait is worth it. We want to give our customers the chance to experience the joy of having their own slice of paradise, whether it's a Trachycarpus fortunei that's been thriving for over a decade or a Sabal minor that brings a touch of the tropics to your backyard.
You Can Do It, Too!
We invite you to explore our collection and see how you can create your own tropical oasis, no matter where you live. With the right care, even the bravest homeowners can plant these palms in the ground and enjoy them year after year, just like we've done here at Northern Tropicals.
Where to Find Northern Tropicals
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