These palms survive by really being tough and taking advantage of London’s unique climate. They thrive in London’s mild and wet winters, which are caused by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. This weather system prevents the ground from freezing solid for long periods of time, which enabling the root systems to survive.
The biggest threat to these palm trees would be a prolonged period of cold weather, especially when combined with wet conditions. This would ultimately lead to root rot. In other words, although these palms can handle the typical London winters, extreme freeze can damage or kill them. Young and newly planted palms are the most vulnerable in this case, as they have not gotten used to the weather. Another potential threat to these trees is the Palm Moth, a type of bug very similar to Lantern Flies back home in New York. They are also an invasive species that can damage the trees. However, over the years, the palms have proven to be very resilient, so the residents here are not overly worried about them.
