Cheshire,
United Kingdom 
I had four palm trees in pots which have died from exposure to the snow etc I am looking to replace them with something equally impressive but don't want the same thing to happen again. I have small children so don't want anything that may be harmful or thorny. Something very easy to maintain but looks stunning, would be good to be evergreen also. Am very useless in the garden so nothing high maintenance, many thanks hope you can help
26 Apr, 2010
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If you want more palms, there are some which are very hardy. Trachycarpus Fortunei Chusan are hardy down to about - 20C or so and my two are in pots and have survived fine this winter. I'm based in Edinburgh. The European fan pan chamaerops humilis is also quite hardy, down to - 12 C or more (I'm sure it was colder than that this winter and mine is thriving and it was a small specimen in a pot with no shelter ). The palm that often won't survive very cold conditions is the Canary Island date palm Phoenix canariensis and it is quite commonly sold in B & Q and I think a lot of people will have lost these this winter.
If you don't want more palms you could try evergreen conifers or hollies ( need female and male for berries if you don't get one that has both genders), or perhaps a bay tree or box (buxus sempervirens) with topiary .
26 Apr, 2010