Best palm trees
for backyard Landscaping & Gardens

Find out Your Own USDA Hardiness Zone!

For your best palm trees, backyard success, personal satisfaction - Think of this:

• In South Florida, Tropical Plants like Coconut Palms excel because freezing temperatures are rare.
• In Southern California, where it doesn't get too cold, palms suited for mild subtropical climates are best.
• In temperate climates, Search Out Cold-Hardy Palms for those withstanding low temps.

Nearly all Palm Tree Resources tell you a palm's growing zone requirements. Some zones can overlap climates. Since alternatively, Your Garden's Microclimate may redefine your perfect palm's limits, rather than be confined by them.

Match that information to your Palm Purchase.

Palms need sunlight, water, and nutrition. But also do best planted in the right soil.

• Which means considering the Palm's Native Environment. Not just your desired planting location. Then you'll know a palm's sun requirements. Like partial shade, or full sun.
• Watering relates to palm origins. Nearly all palms need well-drained soil.
• Soils have natural nutrients. But good for your palm? Soil testing tells if, when & how you might Fertilize Your Palm.

Syagrus romanzoffiana, the Queen, grows beautifully if you provide plentiful water. Native to rainforests. Includes Zones 9-11. Even Zone 8 with caution.

• Gorgeous ringed trunk. Quickly as tall as 90ft/27m.
• Likes sunny areas all day.

Queens Like Their Soil Amended With Humus - Photo: Picture This

AKA Big Mountain Palm. Best in Mediterranean climates, zone 10-11.

• Likes some daytime shade. Some higher water needs.
• Slow-growing to 35ft/11m, patience needed! Plusses: the Maintenance Ease of a Crownshaft.

Dazzling Umbrella Palm, Flora Park Cologne, Germany

Phoenix roebelenii loves Zones 9b-11. Fine for 9a dry climates.

• To 15ft/5m tall. White flowers produce dates you won't want to eat!
• Light shade or full sun. But needs regular water.
• Our Tucson neighbor has triplets doing well in their front yard.

Growing Happily in a Hawaiian Climate

Butia capitata, this hardier sort, does well in Zones 9-11.

• Likes full sun. Moderate watering needs.
• Edible fruit, make jelly/jam from it. Naturally, also nicknamed Jelly Palm.

Gorgeous Example at the Royal Botanical Garden in Madrid

Beccariophoenix madagascariensis grows 24-40ft/7-12m up. Best in Zones 10b-11. But 10a doable with caution.

• Just gorgeous! Likes some shady time.
• Native to Madagascar rainforests, loves water.

Giant Windowpane, Naples Botanical Garden FL

Areca vestiaria often produces multiple trunks. Zones 10-11.

• Slowly reaches 20ft/6m tall.
• Showcases reddish crownshafts and red fruits.
• Prefers some daytime shade, plenty of water.

See its Colorful Crownshaft
Else Kientzler Botanical Garden.
In Sarchi Norte, Costa Rica

Arenga englari, best for Zones 9-11.

• Full sun, average watering.
• Caution: warn people from touching skin-inflaming fruit. 
• Prevention: crop inflorescences when flowers dwindle.

AKA Dwarf Sugar Palm, living at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami

Dypsis lutescens, AKA Butterfly Palm. Successful in Zones 10-11.

• Thirsty! With quick growth.
• Crownshaft tops nicely striped trunk.
• Good for attractive (25-40ft/7.5-12m) screening.

Areca Palms at the Nursery. Potted Up to Take One Home to Plant!

Subtropical climate zones include Planting Zones 8-10a. Lowest temps go from about 20 to 35^oF/-6.7 to 1.7^oC.

Including arid zones. If that's you, Further Consideration Needed for best palms.

Earth's Subtropics are Above & Below the Tropics

Bactris gasipaes, for Zones 10-11. With your freeze-watch, okay for 9.

• Quickly to 60ft/18m tall.
• Sometimes difficult to find. Easier Growing It From Seed instead.
• Needs good sunny placement & generous watering.

Be Cautious! Trunks have short, spiky rings. Ouch!! 😮

Copernica alba does well in Zones 9b-11. Cautiously 9a.

• Quickly can get 80ft/24m tall.
• Average watering.

In Jardin Botanico de Valencia, in Spain

Trithrinax brasiliensis for Zones 9-11. Zone 8 in arid climates.

• Unusual trunk wound round with massive fibers. Like a winter coat! 
• Best with full sun, lower water needs.

Vintage Palm Painting of the Brazilian Needle

Chamaedorea cataractarum, ideal Zones 10b-11. Protect from cold in 10a. Gets about 6ft/1.8m tall, spreading.

• Loves sun, lots of water.
• Tolerates shade. So it's used as an Indoor Palm.

With feathery fronds, it works as a tall groundcover.

Chamaedorea costaricana, ideal Zones 10-11. Doable 9b with wintertime care.

• Likes some daily shade. Drinks up water! 
• Gets 20ft/6m tall. Spreads 10ft/3m.

In Jardín Botánico Canario Viera and Clavijo
On Grand Canary Island

Rhapis excelsa's palmate fronds may remind you of a starburst! Great outdoor choice, yet it's most popular inside homes.

• Outdoors for Zones 9-11 & warm microclimates of 8b.
• Slowly to 12ft/4m tall.
• Some daytime shade, average watering.

 Called the Blue Needle Palm, for Zones 7-11.

• Drought tolerant! Likes full sun.
• Grows to about 25ft/7.5m.

Also called Thatch Palm, Referring to its interesting trunk swirling with black fibers & spines.

Sabal minor, AKA Bush Palmetto. Excellent for Zones 6-11, with caution: 5a.

• Trunk slowly grows mostly underground. Giving a short appearance.
• Loves wettest areas.

Pretty Fan Palms, Bush Palmettos Growing in Port St. Lucie Botanic Garden in Florida

Trachycarpus takil, native to South China's Himalayan heights. Fine in Zones 7b-11. Experimentation ongoing for Zone 7a, 6, even 5! 

• Maxes out at 46ft/15m.
• Likes sun, regular watering.

This Himalayan Palm Grows
In the San Francisco Botanical Garden

Trachycarpus fortunei, AKA Chusan Palm & Chinese Fan Palm. Loved for cold-hardiness. Possible in Zones 7-11, even lower.

• Youthful windmills need protective action for colder temperatures.
• Likes sunlight, but some shade okay. Average watering.

You'll See Why it's Called Palm Avenue!
Hardy Grove at Logan Botanic Garden in the UK

Sabal palmetto, ideal Zones 8-11, possible 7b with winter care.

• Can grow 90ft/27m tall.
• Water regularly, or more for faster growth.
• Sun is fine, use shade cover if young.

Often Just Referred to as a "Palmetto"
They Have an Irresistible, Round Crown of Palmate Fronds.

Washingtonia filifera, called Cotton Palm in England. Does well in Zones 8-11, arid areas OK for 7.

• Can get 70ft/21m high. Likes sun, casual watering. Grows faster with a smidge more water.
• Likes keeping a leaf skirt.

Washingtonia filifera Palms in a Tucson AZ park setting.

Chamaerops humilis does well in Zones 8b-11, dryer parts of 8a.

• Spreads about 30ft/9m. To 20ft/6m tall.
• Sunny placement, lower watering.

Nice Bush-Like Palm Species, Fantastic as a Hedge

Nannorrhops ritchiana, well suited in Zones 8b-11, with regular watering. 7-8a if rainfall scanty, in sunny backyards.

• Gets 20ft/6m tall.
• Spreads out to 15ft/4.5m.

Picture-Perfect Mazari in Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota FL

Serenoa repens, AKA Silver Saw Palmetto. Optimal Zones 8-11, milder microclimates of 7b.

• Can get 30ft/9m tall. Spreads out 12ft/4m.
• Subterranean trunks during youth, when it's slow-growing.
• Flexible for sunlight & watering.

The Blue Form of This Serenoa repens Species