Florida Palm Trees

Indoor Palm Trees are becoming more popular in decorating home and office space. They create a tropical atmosphere that no other indoor plant can provide. Interior designers love indoor palms because they are very tolerable to the wide range of conditions. Palm diseases are rarely a problem while some insects can still get your plant in trouble. Some of the common pests are scale, mealybugs and mites.

Since there is no drought or cold inside, light is the most important key factor in growing healthy and beautiful palm. It is also easier to prevent different diseases and insects that is a usual problem for outdoor palms.

	Areca Palm Tree Scientific Name: Chrysalidocarpus lutescens This outdoor palm can be grown indoors. Areca Palm has long, light green fronds that are feather-shaped with narrow leaflets. Areca Palm grows around 7 inches a year. It will grow to around 7 feet tall indoors. Areca Palm likes a lot of indirect light. It also requires a lot of water and well-drained soil.
	Chinese Fan Palm Tree Scientific Name: Livistona chinensis This is a very easy to grow palm that adapts to a wide range of indoor conditions. Chinese Fan Palm is native to Japan. It likes well-drained soil and a lot of light. This elegant palm has emerald-green fan shaped leafs and little spines along the petiole. So be careful trimming it. It’s a slow growing plant that can reach 30 feet tall.
	Kentia Palm Tree Scientific Name: Howea forsteriana Is one of the best indoor palms. Kentia Palm is native to Australia. It has a slender trunk and a graceful crown of dark-green drooping fronds. This palm likes plenty of light, but can survive in the low light conditions. It also grows best with a lot of water and well-drained soil.
	Lady Palm Tree Scientific Name: Rhapis excelsa If you are looking for an indoor palm Lady Palm is a great choice. It will happily live under low light conditions or bright filtered light. Easy care makes this palm very popular for indoor use. Lady Palm is a slow growing plant that will grow around 9 inches per year.

All palms like heat and humid environment. Usually, heat is not a problem in indoor conditions but not enough humidity and too much dry heat could damage palm leafs. Try to keep your palm plants away from heaters and air conditioners if possible.

In the warm month palm can greatly benefit from spending some time outside. Since they are not used to bright sunlight, slowly acclimatize them to the outside light. Also keep in mind that it is impossible for “sun grown” leaf to adapt to the low light levels. So don’t keep your plant outside for too long.

If you have comments or questions let me know by using a comment box below. Have a wonderful day :)

~Susan Brian

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Everybody wants to buy a fast growing palm, so they can spend less money and still get a palm tree that will grow in a few months giving your garden a beautiful tropical look.

Growing condition is the key factor.

If you buy a fast growing palm tree and plant it in South Carolina, it will grow slower than the same palm in Florida. The more tropical the climate is, the faster your palm tree will grow.

Another important factor is fertilizer. You can dramatically speed up growing process by giving your palm tree enough nutrition.

Here are Top Fast Growing Palms:

	1. Carpentaria Palm Tree Scientific Name: Carpentaria acuminata Carpentaria Palm is native to the rain forest areas of Australia. It is an extremely fast growing palm that grows 6 feet (2 meters) a year.
	2. King Palm Tree Scientific Name: Archontophoenix alexandrae King Palm is a quick growing palm that grows around 2.5 feet a year. So you can get 25 feet palm tree in 10 years. The maximum height is about 40 feet.
	3. Queen Palm Tree Scientific Name: Syagrus romanzoffiana Queen palm is native to the South American woodlands of Brazil and Argentina. It is a fast growing palm that can grow from 15 gallon plant to 25 feet in 7 years.
	4. Royal Palm Tree Scientific Name: Roystonea oleracea Common Name: Royal Palm

One of the products that I personally love is Jobe’s Palm Fertilizer. This product is great, because it promotes root development and the long-term vitality of all types of palms. It won’t burn the roots and has all the nutrients your palm trees need. More info about Palm Tree Fertilization.

~Susan Brian

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Even if you don’t live in the warm climate, there are a lot of Cold Hardy Palm Trees that can grow in your area. Most people don’t realize that palm trees can grow not only in Florida, but also in other 40 states.

We used to see palm trees only in the warm climate and you’ll be surprised to find out that some of the palms can withstand a deep winter freeze in subzero temperatures. Some of the cold hardy palms can grow in places like Texas (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), California, and much further north.

Here are the  most popular cold hardy palms. These palms quickly gained popularity because they are durable, easy to grow and are widely available at palm nurseries.
 

Bismarck Palm Tree – Bismarckia nobilis

The Bismarck Palm Tree is  native to the island of Madagascar. This palm is cold hardy and can tolerate cold temperatures down to 15-20F when mature enough. This palm grows at the average rate and is perfect for USDA zones 8b-11. This palm is durable and can tolerate high winds and heat. The silver-green fan shaped leaves will add a dramatic effect to any landscape. Bismarckia nobilis is low maintenance and easy to grow. Read more»

Cabbage Palm Tree – Sabal palmetto

The Cabbage Palm is native to North America. This palm is very durable and will tolerate a wide variety of soil and weather. The Cabbage Palm is a cold hardy palm that can tolerate drought as well as cold down to 10-15F when mature. This palm grows at the average rate and is perfect for USDA zones 8a-11. Read more»

California Fan Palm Tree – Washingtonia filifera

The California Fan Palm is native to North America. It is very widely grown as an ornamental landscape tree in Arizona, Mexico and California. This palm tree can tolerate drought as well as cold down to 15-20F when mature. This moderate growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 8a-11. This palm requires some maintenance. With regular trimming of old leaves it looks very attractive. Read more»

Chinese Fan Palm Tree – Livistona chinensis

The Chinese Fan Palm is native to China and southern Japan. The Chinese Fan Palm is a cold hardy palm that can tolerate drought as well as cold down to 10-15F when mature. This moderate growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 8a-11. Livistona chinensis is widely grown in Arizona, Texas and California. Read more»

European Fan Palm Tree – Chamaerops humilis

The European Fan Palm is also known as Mediterranean Palm. This slow growing palm is native to Mediterranean region of Europe. This palm is very attractive, bushy, evergreen that is extremely tough. The European Fan Palm is a cold hardy palm that can tolerate cold down to 5-10F. It is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 7b-11. Read more»

Mexican Fan Palm Tree – Washingtonia robusta

The Mexican Fan Palm is native to desert regions of Mexico. The Mexican Fan Palm is cold hardy palm that can tolerate cold down to 15-20F when mature enough. This moderate growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 8b-11. Read more»

Needle Palm Tree – Rhapidophyllum hystrix

The Needle Palm is native to the southeastern United States. The Needle Palm is extremely cold hardy palm that can tolerate cold down to  -10F when mature enough. This slow growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 5b-11. Read more»

Pindo Palm Tree – Butia capitata

The Pindo Palm is also known as Jelly Palm. The Pindo Palm is native to savannahs of South America. The Pindo Palm is hardy palm that can tolerate down to 5-10F. Temperatures below 5 degrees will cause damage. This very slow growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 7b-11. This palm is easy to grow, but it requires some maintenance to keep it nice appearance. Read more»

Sago Palm Tree – Cycas revoluta

Cycads are known to be among the oldest plants on earth, unchanged for millions of years, originating in East Africa. The Sago Palm is cold hardy palm that can tolerate cold down to 5-10F. It’s a slow growing palm that is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 7b-11. Read more»

Saw Palmetto Palm Tree – Serenoa repens

The Saw Palmetto Palm is also known as Sabal Palm. It is native to Florida and grows all over southeastern United States. The Saw Palmetto Palm is a very cold hardy palm that can tolerate cold down to 0-5F. This slow growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 7a-11. Read more»

Windmill Palm Tree – Trachycarpus fortune

The Windmill Palm is native to central and eastern China. The Windmill Palm is a very cold hardy palm that can tolerate cold down to 5-10F. This slow growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 7b-11. This palm requires some trunk maintenance to keep its beautiful appearance. Read more»

If you don’t live in the warm climate and still want to have beautiful palm trees in you backyard, you would love this book “Betrock’s Cold Hardy Palms.” It has comprehensive profiles for 82 palm species capable of growing in climates colder than USDA Hardiness Zone 10, including 286 color photographs. Have a wonderful day :)

~Susan Brian

Related articles:

• Palm Tree Cold Protection
• How to Save Cold Damaged Palm Tree
• Importance of Microclimate When Choosing Cold Hardy Palms
• Top 5 Factors Affecting Cold Hardy Palm Tree Growth

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I get a lot of questions about Small Palm Trees. I consider all palms under 20 feet to be small. Small Palm Trees, also called Dwarf Palm Trees, are great for the front yard of the house because they are easier to maintain and they don’t abstract the view. Also, small palm trees under 20 feet are great for small-scale gardens.

There are thousands of palm tree species to choose from, but I am listing only most popular small palm trees that are easy in maintenance and you can find them at the most local nurseries. Keep in mind that these palms can grow much higher in the wild. Following palms are all slow growing but can grow faster if regularly fertilized.

1. Small Palm Trees under 10 Feet

	Cardboard Palm Tree Scientific Name: Zamia furfuracea Common Name: Cardboard Palm, Cardboard Plant, Cardboard Sago, Cardboard Cycad, Mexican Cycad
	European Fan Palm Tree Scientific Name: Chamaerops humilis Common Name: European Fan Palm, Mediterranean fan palm
	Lady Palm Tree Scientific Name: Rhapis excelsa Common Name: Lady Palm, R. flabelliformis, Aristocratic Lady Palm
	Needle Palm Tree Scientific Name: Rhapidophyllum hystrix Common Name: Needle Palm, Porcupine Palm
	Pygmy Date Palm Tree Scientific Name: Phoenix roebelenii Common Name: Pygmy Date Palm, Robellini Palm, Miniature Date Palm
	Ruffled Fan Palm Tree Scientific Name: Licuala grandis Common Name: Ruffled Fan Palm, Vanuatu Fan Palm, Palas Palm, Ruffled Lantan Palm
	Sago Palm Tree Scientific Name: Cycas revoluta Common Name: Sago Palm, Japanese Sago Palm, King Sago Palm, Sago Cycas
	Saw Palmetto Palm Tree Scientific Name: Serenoa repens Common Name: Silver Saw Palmetto Palm, Saw Palmetto Palm, Scrub Palm

2. Small Palm Trees under 20 Feet

	Areca Palm Tree Scientific Name: Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Common Name: Areca Palm, Yellow Palm, Butterfly Palm, Cane Palm, Golden Feather Palm
	Bottle Palm Tree Scientific Name: Hyophorbe lagenicaulis Common Name: Bottle Palm
	Christmas Palm Tree Scientific Name: Veitchia Merrillii Common Name: Christmas Palm, Manila Palm, Kerpis Palm
	Fiji Fan Palm Tree Scientific Name: Pritchardia pacifica Common Name: Fiji Fan Palm, Fiji Palm
	Fishtail Palm Tree Scientific Name: Caryota mitis Common Name: Clustered Fishtail Palm
	Flame Thrower Palm Tree Scientific Name: Chambeyronia macrocarpa Common Name: Red Feather Palm, Red Leaf Palm, Blushing Palm, Watermelon Palm
	Florida Thatch Palm Tree Scientific Name: Thrinax radiata Common Name: Silk-top Thatch Palm, Sea Thatch Palm
	Joey Palm Tree Scientific Name: Johannesteijsmannia altifrons Common Name: Diamond Joey Palm, Diamond Joey
	Lipstick Palm Tree Scientific Name: Cyrtostachys renda Common Name: Lipstick Palm, Sealing Wax Palm, Red Sealing Wax Palm
	Miniature Chusan Palm Tree Scientific Name: Trachycarpus wagnerianus Common Name: Miniature Chusan Palm, Wagner’s Windmill Palm, Waggie Palm, Waggie
	Old Man Palm Tree Scientific Name: Coccothrinax crinita Common Name: Old Man Palm, Thatch Palm, Guano Barbudo, Guano Petate, Palma Petate
	Pindo Palm Tree Scientific Name: Butia capitata Common Name: Pindo Palm, Jelly palm, Wine Palm
	Ponytail Palm Tree Scientific Name: Beaucarnea recurvata Common Name: Ponytail Palm, Pony Tail Palm, Bottle Palm, Monja, Palma Culona, Elephant-Foot Tree, Elephant Foot
	Windmill Palm Tree Scientific Name: Trachycarpus fortunei Common Name: Windmill Palm, Chusan Palm, Chinese Windmill Palm

Please let me know if there are other Small Palm Trees that should be added to this list. If you have any questions or comments use a comment box below. I always love to hear from you.

~Susan Brian

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