How to Select the Right Palm Trees

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Select the Right Palm Tree for Your Garden (Paradise Palm Co.)

Many people love the look of palm trees in the design of their landscape. But not all palm trees varieties are right for every location. And many palm trees will grow up to look much different from the youngsters you plant in your garden. If you are thinking about planting palm trees, here are some tips on which palm trees are best for where and how to choose the right palm tree for your landscape.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Canary Island Date Palm

Two handsome, medium height palms trees are the Senegal Date (Phoenix Reclinata), and the India Wild Date (Phoenix Sylvestris) Palms. Both will handle temperatures that occasionally dip into the mid 20's F. The Senegal Date is probably slightly less hardy than the India Wild Date Palm. These are both graceful-growing palms that should reach 20' - 40' in height. A slightly taller Phoenix is the Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) that will grow another 20' above its family members. All have a similar look.
Step 2

Mediterranean or European Fan Palm

A good medium height fan palm that will even handle harsh desert conditions is the Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis). This is an attractive palm that grows a relatively stout trunk and a thick head of leaves. Although this palm is reputedly hardy to the low 20's F, established palm trees have withstood temperatures into the low teens. Expect this palm to grow from 25' - 40' tall. You can grow these in a group or select one that has multiple trunks for a really nice effect.
Step 3

Pindo Palm

The Pindo or Jelly Palm (Butia capitata)is a shorter growing palm than many in the palm family. It should be able to handle winter nights down to the mid teens. It is another palm that can go inland where temperatures have a wider range and sun can be more intense. Plan on it attaining a height of 15 - 25'.
Step 4

Windmill Palm

The Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) is a particularly attractive palm that looks a bit like a more delicate and smaller version of the larger fan palms. It is another palm that is particularly attractive with multiple trunks and one of the few that can naturally branch like this. It also stays a reasonable height at from 12' - 20' tall.
Step 5

Medjoool Palm

The Medjool Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera) is known as the edible date palm. This is the biblical palm that offers the edible dates we all know. Once established it can survive temperatures that occasionally dive into the mid 20's F. It can eventually grow 75' - 90' tall.
Step 6

Dwarf Palmetto

There are not a lot of palms to choose from if you want your palm to stay small. Many people planted the Washington Fan Tree Palms (Washingtonia Robusta) all over Southern California decades ago because they looked so pretty as 6'- 8' specimens. Unfortunately, most of them are now over 90' tall and are beautiful only when seen from a distance! Today the Queen Palm (Syagrus Romanzoffianais) is being planted everywhere for the same reasons. These graceful youngsters will not tower like the Washingtonias, but can still grow a respectable 40' in a decade or so, so they should be planted with adult size in mind.

If you want a truly lovely dwarf palm, consider planting the Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelini). The Dwarf Date Palm or Pigmy Palm will take temperatures down to 25'F and even a little colder with some protection. Give it some shade if you are growing it in hot desert sun, otherwise it can take full sun. It will grow slowly to 10 - 12' tall. Dwarf Saw Palmetto Palms (Serenoa repens) are supposed to handle cold temperatures down to 0' F and grow only to 10' - 12', but this seems to vary widely.
Step 7

Queen palm

The Washingtonia Robusta should be planted only where you are willing to have a palm that will eventually compete with a telephone pole for height. Lining long driveways on a large piece of property would be a good choice. These are good, tough, palms that can also take take temperatures down to the low 20's, much like the Queen Palms. The latter will grow from 30' - 50' in height.
Step 8

Although this list of palm trees is not comprehensive, it should give you some idea of some of the available palm trees you might want to use in your landscape. Please be aware that some of these palms are grown in temperatures much colder than mentioned here and occasionally one will grow smaller or larger than is usual for the type. Palms tend to grow fairly slowly, so don't be surprised when you find out how expensive they are to purchase. They required a lot of time and work to nurse them to sales size. For more information on how to select the right palm tree, please check the Resources listed below.

Comments

e-Rambler said

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on 2/11/2009 You know, palms are one of my favorite trees. Thanks again to our garden guru for tons of great info.

ScarlettOHairy said

on 2/9/2009 Thanks for the palm tree primer! I had no idea there were so many varieties. 5*

luv2blog said

on 2/9/2009 I think Palm Trees are beautiful. They can certainly put you in a tropical spirit or frame of mind. Everytime I see one I think of a nice warm vacation.