- Overview Palm trees are one of the
staples for landscaping in Florida. Listed below are some of the more commonly grown species of palms in this state.
- Areca Palm, Yellow Butterfly Palm, Golden Cane Palm, Bamboo Palm (chrysalidocarpus lutescens) Clump-growing tree (technically not a palm) that reaches 20 to 30 feet in height with a spread of 8 to 10 feet. High availability. Hardy Zones 10 - 11. Can be grown indoors, but requires light and humidity.
Does well in diffuse light.
- Bismarck
Palm (bismarckia nobilis) Can reach a height 70'. Hardy in Zones 10 - 11.
Plants with grayer leaves appear to be more cold hardy and may survive in Zone 9b. A striking speciman palm.
Fronds vary in color from
blue or blue-green to gray.
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- Blue Hesper Palm, Mexican Blue Palm, Blue Palm, Sweet Brahea Palm (brahea armata) Can grow to 50'. Hardy Zones 8 - 11. Prefers full sunlight.
- Cabbage Palm or Sabal Palm (sabal palmetto) hardy Zones 8B - 11. Can reach 80' in height.
- Coconut Palm (cocos nucifera)
- European Fan Palm (chamaerops humilis)
Hardy Zones 8B - 11. Slow grower, good for containers.
- Fishtail Palm (caryota spp.)
Ideal for containers or the poolside. Hardy Zones 10B - 11.
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- Jelly Palm, Pindo Palm, Wine Palm (butia capitata)
Hardy from Zones 8b thru 11. Slow growing to 20'. Produces orange-yellow, juicy, edible fruits, the size of large dates, that are used to make jams or jellies.
Frutis can be messy, so keep back from sidewalks and driveways.
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- Kentia Palm, Sentry Palm (howea forsterana) Hardy
Zones 9B - 11. Can reach 40' - 60' in height. However, it is a slow grower and can be left in a container for many years
- floridata.com "Outside kentia palms grow best in 35%-80% of full sunlight, tolerating direct sun only after about five years old. Young kentia need protection from direct sunlight and grow best in shady to partly shady locations." Hence, it is ideal as an inside palm.
- University of Florida
- Lady Palm (rhapis excelsa)
Hardy Zones 8B - 11. Slow grower, ideal for containers. Prefers partial to deep shade.
- Needle Palm (rhapidophyllum hystrix)
Grows about 6' in height. Hardy Zones 8 - 10.
- Paurotis Palm (acoelorrhaphe wrightii)
Slow growing to 25'. hardy in Zones 10 - 11.
- Pony Tail or Pnytail Palm, Bottle Palm, Monja, Elephant's Foot (beaucarnea recurvata). A succulent related to the Yucca, the Ponytail Palm is not a true palm.
Hardy in Zones 9 - 12. Can also be grown as a house plant. Can reach 30' in height with a 12' base.
- Pygmy Date Palm (phoenix roebelenii or phoenix robellini)
Hardy Zones 10 - 11. Slow grower reaching a height of 6' to 12'. Ideal for containers. Take precautions if the temperature drops below 30 degrees.
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- Queen Palm (syagrus romanzoffiana) Common, inexpensive landscaping palm found throughout Central and Southern Florida. Hardy Zones 9b - 11. Fast grower to 50'.
Needs to be fertilized properly to avoid "frizzle top".
- Royal Palm (roystonea species) Thrives in Zones 10-11. Can survive cold spells down to 28 F if short in duration.
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- Reclinata or Senegal Date Palm (phoenix reclinata)
Multple trunked palm that
can reach 35 feet in height with a 12 to 20-foot-spread. Hardy Zones 9b - 11. As the palm ages the trunks bend to the horizontal, occaisionally requiring support. Requires plenty of room.
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- Slender Lady Palm (rhapis humilis)
Slow growing, forming clumps 6' to 8' high. Prefers partial to full shade. Hardy Zones 9 - 11.
- Washington Palm (washingtonia robusta)
Hardy Zones 9 - 11. Typically grows 40 to 50 feet in height, but can grow to 80 feet. The dead leaves form a covering on the tree that can be a fire hazard and home for rodets.
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- Windmill Palm (trachycarpus fortunei) Typically grows 10' to 20' tall. hardy Zones 8 - 11. Prefers partial to full shade.
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