Palm trees are a common sight in Florida, and they exist in a wide variety of different forms.
From the Canary Island date palm to the Mexican fan palm, there’s a palm tree for every taste. Some varieties of these plants can grow to over 100 feet tall, but most top out around 30-50 feet.
Here are some of the palm trees that grow in the state of Florida.
Coconut Palm
The coconut palm is one of the most well known varieties of palm tree in Florida. It features a dense canopy of green fronds that create an umbrella-like structure above the ground. With large fronds, this species of palm thrives in tropical climates.
As their name suggests, coconut palm trees are where coconuts come from, so if you grow one, you’ll eventually be able to harvest coconuts.
This variety only grows in zones 10 and 11, meaning the southern half of the state, so if you want to grow it north of zone 10 you’re out of luck. It grows tall enough to reach up to 80 feet tall and starts bearing fruit around 6 years old, with fruit production picking up around 13 years old.
Pygmy Date Palm
The pygmy date palm is a small, slow-growing palm that is often used in pots to add a tropical touch to patios and other outdoor living areas.
The pygmy date palm is one of the smaller varieties of palms that grow in Florida. It can grow up to six feet tall, but the trunks are typically only about a 3 to 6 inches in diameter. It is a clumping palm, meaning it produces more than one trunk.
This type of palm tree produces long fronds that have spikes on them. The flowers are very small and pale in color, and they occur in large clusters arranged on stems.
The pygmy date palm makes an excellent ornamental tree for yards and gardens where there is plenty of space. It grows slowly, so it is not suitable for areas where it has to compete with other vegetation for sunlight and nutrients.
Mexican Fan Palm
The Mexican fan palm is a common type of palm tree in Florida. The fronds of this palm have a distinctive fan shape with a series of long, thin, and slightly curved spines along the petioles. It has also been found to grow up to 70 to 100 feet tall.
Mexican fan palms are able to thrive despite their size because they have large root systems that can sustain them for long periods of time. This plant is also relatively easy to maintain – it only requires regular watering while it’s first getting established and some light pruning every now and then to remove old fronds.
Another great thing about this palm tree is that it’s not picky about where it grows – as long as there’s enough water and sunlight, this palm will do well!
Sabal Palmetto
The Sabal Palmetto is a mainstay of Florida landscaping, and for good reason. It is perhaps the hardiest of all palms, easy to grow and care for, and has a great look that stands out well in any landscape.
The sabal Palmetto is a plant that grows all across the southeastern United States. The tree is also called sabal palm, cabbage palm, cabbage palmetto palm, Carolina palmetto, or simply sabal.
Sabal palmettos are actually the state tree of both Florida and South Carolina, and you’re likely to never be too far away from one of these distinctive looking trees no matter where you find yourself in Florida.
They are extremely easy to grow and require next to no care once they are established. They are well known for their ability to withstand severe wind and hurricanes, which is why they are so common on the east coast. They can also live for hundreds of years, making them a favorite among landscapers and homeowners alike.
These trees can take a surprising amount of cold weather, with many of them surviving temperatures as low as 20 degrees F for short periods of time, perhaps down to 15F.
Bamboo Palm
The Bamboo Palm – also known as Chamaedorea Seifrizii – is native to Madagascar. The Bamboo Palm produces rather thin, feathery fronds for a palm tree and can get up to 12 feet tall.
This is one of the best palms for the house or office because it tolerates low light very well, and yet thrives in bright light. They are the perfect indoor plant for brightening up a room and are even said to help purify the air. The Bamboo Palm is also considered to be one of the top plants for removing formaldehyde from your home, according to the famous NASA study.
The fruit of this tree consists of many small round drupes clustered together on a single stem which turn black when ripened (standing out against the red stems and looking quite nice).
The Bamboo Palm can used in landscaping in southern florida (zones 10 and further south) and is popular because of its feathery fronds and bamboo-like appearance.
The Bamboo Palm prefers to be in partial shade, although it can tolerate full sun or shade. It prefers loamy, well-drained soil, but will tolerate other types of soil as long as it is kept moist. The Bamboo Palm has a slow growth rate and can a long time to reach its full height.
European Fan Palm
The European fan palm is a very distinctive looking palm that produces fan shaped fronds and grows in clumps with multiple trunks. This plant can be found throughout the state and only tops out at around 15 feet in height.
The European fan palm is a beautiful plant that looks great in any landscape and is perfect for people who want an interesting looking palm tree to act as an accent piece for their landscape. This plant is a popular choice for many homeowners because it’s easy to grow, it doesn’t take up a lot of room and it offers a unique look to any yard.
European fan palms are also known as Mediterranean palms, as they are native to the Mediterranean region.
This type of palm may not grow anywhere near as tall as some other types of palms, but it still looks regal when it’s fully grown. It’s also the only species of palm tree that’s native to Europe, which makes it a bit of a unique tree.
Foxtail Palm
The Foxtail Palm is one of the best looking palm trees in my opinion. Because the leaves grow on all sides of the fronds, it gives it a much bushier appearance than other species of palm trees – making its fronds look like bushy fox tails.
Foxtail palms get up to 30 feet tall, making its edible fruit a bit hard to harvest. The fruit doesn’t have much flavor (or much flesh on the seed), however, so it’s hardly worth the effort to try to collect.
These palms do best in full sun, however, I’ve seen them grow in part shade as well. Growing in part shade does make them more vulnerable to disease, however. They will grow in almost any soil type and are drought tolerant once established.
Royal Palm
The royal palm is one of the more common types of palm trees in Florida. This type of palm tree grows to a height of around 60-80 feet tall, with a mature stem diameter ranging from 19-24 inches. The Caribbean royal palm can get up to 130 feet in height.
Mature fronds on this particular variety have an average length of 10 to 15 feet and can weigh up to 50 pounds. (Not something you want to be standing under when it drops one of them.)
The flowers on this variety are small, typically white or a yellowish color, and look like normal palm flowers. It’s hard to see the flowers because they usually grow in clusters near the top of the trunk. Royal palms can live for over 100 years!
Royal Palms can be found throughout Florida in both wet and dry forests as well as along coastal areas. They’re a common sight in many urban cities like Miami, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Ft Lauderdale, Clearwater Beach, Palm Beach County, and Boca Raton.
Queen Palm
The Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) is a medium size palm that is native to Brazil. It has become popular in the United States, particularly in the southern states due to its ability to thrive in a variety of conditions.
Queen palms are a popular choice for homeowners in costal areas because of their relatively easy to maintain and fairly salt tolerant nature. Queen palms typically grow up to around 50 feet tall.
The Queen Palm fairly big fronds that are about 10-15 feet long. This palm tree can be found all around the state, but is more prevalent in southern Florida.
Areca Palm
The areca palm is a type of clumping palm that is fairly common in Florida. Instead of growing a single trunk that is super tall, it grows a bunch of shorter, smaller trunks that stay around 30 feet at the tallest.
The fronds themselves are long and thin, with an overall length that can be up to eight feet long. The fronds are usually dark green or yellowish-green in color, and they contrast beautifully against the light brown trunks.
Its clumping nature does make it a rather interesting specimen of a palm tree, and it is relatively popular in landscaping uses. It’s native to Madagascar, however, so it’s not widely found in the wild.
Ponytail Palm
One of the more unusual palm trees growing in Florida is the ponytail palm.
This palm tree is not a true palm at all, but rather more closely related to the agave family. It can be grown either indoors or outdoors and tolerates both very well so long as it’s in an area in full sun.
These “palms” can grow up to 30 feet tall and honestly almost have more trunk than leaf. An alternative name for them is the elephant foot palm, and they’ve definitely earned the name due to the large bulge at the base of their trunk.
In my opinion they look like something that should either be from some prehistoric era or else be from a Dr. Seuss book.
They do best in zones 8b through 11, and you’ll find them growing outdoors in Florida, Texas, California, and other areas with similar weather. They are drought tolerant palms and prefer to be planted in full sun, but they will tolerate partial shade.
Canary Island Date Palm
The Canary Island date palm is a species of date palm that typically only gets to around 66 feet high. These palms are native to the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, where they can occasionally grow to be over 100 feet tall. The fronds of the palm can be up to 20 feet long and are green in color.
This variety of palms has been used for centuries by people living in the Canary Islands for food, though their dates aren’t the best tasting variety of dates when compared to other species of date palm.
They’re also known as pineapple palms because of their tall trunks, which have a diamond-patterned texture and resemble a pineapple. In addition to being used for food, they’ve also been used in construction projects and are still sometimes planted as ornamental trees in yards.
Everglades Palm
The Everglades Palm, also known as the Paurotis Palm, can handle temperatures down to 10-15 degrees, so it can be grown just about anywhere in Florida.
The Everglades palm is a smaller species of palm that typically stays below 30 feet tall, growing in a clumping fashion with multiple trunks that stay below 6″ thick. The fronds are fan shaped and typically get to 2-3 feet wide at their widest.
Unlike what the name would suggest, this palm tree is native to South America, not the everglades, but it is a tree that is commonly found throughout the everglades now.
This is a great palm for Florida because of its hardiness and low maintenance. It is not susceptible to any major disease or pest, and it is very easy to grow. They are also available in seed form, which makes them a very inexpensive option if you are looking to fill your yard with palms at a low cost.
It is very low maintenance as long as it gets watered regularly. Like most palms, it prefers well drained soil but also likes a fair amount of water. As long as you water it frequently you will be able to grow this palm without any issues.
Plant it in full sun and make sure to water it frequently when it is young. As it ages, water only when it starts looking droopy, as they are fairly drought tolerant once they are established.
Dwarf Palmetto
The Dwarf Palmetto is a type of palm tree that is found in Florida. The Dwarf Palmetto resembles a small palm tree with fan shaped fronds arranged in an umbrella-like shape. These trees typically never get above 10 feet tall. The dwarf palmetto produces small clusters of white flowers at the top of the trunk in summer.
It’s one of the most popular varieties of palms in Florida because of its unique look, its size, and its adaptability to different climates. Being a dwarf palm means it will always stay a manageable size.
The Dwarf Palmetto is very easy to grow and care for. It has low water requirements, but does best when watered weekly during hot and dry periods. The soil should be kept moist, but never soggy or wet. These palms prefer full sun to partial shade and require little pruning or maintenance once established.
Bismarck Palm
The Bismarck palm is a rare and slow-growing tree – about 1 to 2 feet per year – that can grow to be over 70 feet tall. It’s native to Madagascar, but it has been introduced in Florida.
Bismarck palm trees are known for their characteristic silver fronds. Their fronds have a wide diameter of up to 10 feet, which can make the tree appear fuller. Bismarck palm trees have a thick trunk that is covered in dark brown fiber from old leaf bases.
Bismarck palm trees are a great choice for any landscape. They’re easy to care for, beautiful, and they can withstand the hot Florida sun. One of my neighbors has one, and it’s really a beautiful tree. Absolutely would recommend getting one if they grow in your area.
Bottle Palm
The bottle palm rather unique looking type of palm that has a trunk that’s shaped like a bottle – earning it its name. It is a pretty small species of palm tree that only gets up to 12 feet in height.
This is a popular plant both for landscaping and for growing as an indoor palm tree due to its unique shape making it appealing.
Bottle palm trees can be grown outdoors in zones 10-11. They are much happier when they are grown in full sun, however, you can grow them as houseplants or patio plants and keep them out of the direct sunlight.
Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei, or the windmill palm tree, is a small palm that grows to about 20 to 40 feet high and about 6 feet wide with fan-shaped leaves.
The windmill palm is great if you live in a colder climate and still want to enjoy the graceful beauty of a palm tree.
Windmill palm trees are native to the mountainous regions of China, Myanmar, Japan, and India. There, they can be found growing at elevations of up to 6000 ft.
This palm tree is a tough little palm that’s both disease resistant and cold hardy. Unlike most palms that can only grow in zones 9 and further south, this one can go up to zone 7 with little issue and in some cases up to zone 6 (but will lose its fronds during the winter and regrow them in spring when it warms up).
This variety of palm tree is also quite drought tolerant, meaning it needs a lot less water than some of the varieties of palm tree on this list. If you’re looking for a nearly bulletproof variety of palm tree to grow, this is definitely something you should look at.
Sylvester Palm
Sylvester palms are a type of palm tree that is native to Pakistan, India, and the surrounding countries. They are a tall palm tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall. They have a typical trunk covered in bumps from where old branches used to be and long, thin fronds.
Sylvester palms are relatively hardy and need little care, being both drought tolerant and more resistant to cold. Sylvester palms can benefit from being fertilized several times per year, however, so there is at least a little maintenance they do need.
If you want a palm tree that can add a bit of tropical flair to your yard, Sylvester palms can be a good choice. While there are many varieties of palm trees, the Sylvester palm is one of the hardiest. It does well in all parts of Florida and any other place with a warm climate and plenty of sun.
Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto trees are native to Florida and can be found in many parts of the state. They would potentially be a tall-ish species of palm if they didn’t typically grow with their trunk creeping horizontally across the ground instead of straight up into the air.
The trunk is typically covered with bumps or ridges. The petiols are long and narrow, with a serrated edge. The fronds themselves are fan shaped. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant. Saw Palmetto trees are popular for their fruit, which is a type of palm nut traditionally used in folk medicine.
Buccaneer Palm
Buccaneer palms are a type of palm tree that is native to Florida Keys and other Carribean nations. These trees are one of the lesser known palms, but they are a tree that is very salt tolerant, drought tolerant, and otherwise hard to kill when grown in their proper range.
They do have a pretty slow growth rate, however. They aren’t widely grown in Florida because they can only grow in zone 10B and further south.
This makes them useless for most of the state since most of the growing zones are 9b or colder. However, if you live in Miami or other southern parts of Florida, this is an excellent species to plant.
If you live in southern Florida and want a tree that will thrive in salty conditions by your pool or beach house, this is the perfect palm for you.
Water the palm tree regularly during the first growing season to help establish healthy roots. After that, it needs little to no water unless there is a prolonged drought. This palm tree has no significant pest or disease problems, so it needs no special care once it is established.
Fishtail Palm
Fishtail palms are a type of palm tree that is native to the Caribbean region. These trees typically don’t grow that tall – with a maximum height of around 25 feet. Their maximum spread is also only around 15 feet wide, making them an excellent palm tree for smaller areas.
They are most known for the shape of their leaves, which are sort of triangular shaped, like a fish’s tail.
This can make them look very attractive in the right setting, as this type of palm has a unique look that makes it stand out from other more common types of palm trees. Because they have such a distinctive appearance, they are often used in landscaping and can be seen in both residential and commercial settings.
In order to thrive and grow well, these types of palm trees need to be planted in full sunlight and will do best when planted in very well-draining soil.
In the winter months, they need to be kept warm so that they don’t suffer any damage due to cold weather. They can survive temperatures down to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but anything much lower than that will kill them.
Scrub Palmetto
Scrub Palmetto palms are a type of palm tree that is native to the southeastern United States. These trees typically only grow to around 5 to 8 feet tall, being pretty short as their name implies. Typically having 5 to 8 fronds at any given point in time (with a spread of about 3 to 5 feet), they’re not much to look at.
They are one of the more salt tolerant palms, so they can be grown in areas with moderately salty soils. This makes them an excellent choice for areas near coastal locations.
They are great for beginner gardeners because they’re very tough and easy to take care of. They don’t need a lot of water, and most diseases and pests generally avoid them. They do best when planted in full sunlight, though they can take some shade if needed.
While they tend to be found growing naturally in sandy or dry soils, they can survive in a wide variety of soil conditions when planted as ornamentals.
Chinese Fan Palm
The Chinese Fan Palm, also known as Livistona Chinensis, is a type of palm tree that is native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia. These trees typically grow to around 50 feet tall, with a spread of around 12 feet.
The trunk of a Chinese Fan Palm is usually covered with brownish fibers which are soft, yet still very tough to the touch. This type of palm tree does not branch out or have a canopy; rather it just has one large trunk.
The leaves on this palm are large and fan-shaped, which gives the tree its name. They are usually dark green in color, and are palmately lobed – meaning that there are several leaflets that radiate from one point on the leaf stalk.
The flowers of the Chinese Fan Palm are small and yellowish in color. They appear at the end of long branches which extend outwards from the trunk of the tree.
The Chinese Fan Palm is commonly used for landscaping and will often times be seen growing along sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots.
Due to its ability to grow successfully in containers as well as planted outdoors, it has become popular with many people looking for an easy way to add a landscape feature or decoration to both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Manila Palm
The Manila palm (Veitchia merrillii) is a single-stemmed, pinnate-leaved palm that is native to the Philippines. This tropical palm grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11, and prefers full sun. These trees typically grow to around 25 feet tall, with a spread of around 5 to 8 feet.
Manila palms bloom in summer, producing yellow-white flowers. The flowers produce edible but unpleasant tasting fruit that are green when young and turn yellowish orange at maturity.
Manila palms are moderately slow growing and do not require much care or maintenance. Like many palms, this palm is fairly drought and salt tolerant. It is also known as the Dwarf Royal Palm or the Christmas Palm.
Red Sealing Wax Palm
The red sealing wax palm, also known as the lipstick palm, is a stunning tree that makes a great addition to any landscape. It’s native to Thailand and Malaysia, but can be grown in other parts of the world as long as it is in USDA hardiness zones 10-11.
These trees typically grow to around 35 feet tall, with a spread of around 20 feet.
The trunk of a Red Sealing Wax Palm is a bright red color, hence how it got both of its common names. This palm tree is a clumping palm, meaning it produces multiple trunks rather than a single large trunk.
Parlor Palm
The parlor palm is a small palm tree that is native to southern Mexico. These trees typically grow to around 16 feet tall, with a very modest spread. Most commonly it’s grown as a houseplant, where it only gets up to around 6 feet tall with a spread of only 2 to 3 feet.
When grown outdoors, this palm tree doesn’t like cold at all, only being able to grow up to zone 10. This means it can only be grown outside in the southern parts of Florida.
Parlor palms are quite versatile as houseplants because they can be grown in a range of conditions including low light levels and dry potting soil. They require minimal care and will grow happily for years as long as they are provided with well-drained soil and water when the top inch or so feels dry to the touch.
When grown as a houseplant, it has a slow growth rate and typically does not need any repotting for several years. It does like bright, indirect light, but no direct sun on its delicate leaves.
King Palm
The king palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) is a type of palm tree that is native to Australia. These trees typically grow to over 60 feet tall, with a spread of around 15 feet.
King palm is a great choice for planting in a tropical-themed yard. It is fast growing and easy to take care of, since it’s disease resistant and not prone to insect pests. King palm is also very tolerant of salt spray and wind, making it an excellent choice for coastal plantings.
It’s such a hardy species of palm that it’s become an invasive pest in many areas, including Brazil (though not in Florida). It does like having a lot of water, though, so if you plant one, be sure to water it well or plant it at the edge of a body of water.
King palm, also known as bangalow palm and illawara palm, will grow in central and sothern Florida, from zones 9b south.
Alexandra Palm
The Alexandra Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) also known as the feather palm, is a type of palm tree that is native to Queensland, Australia. These trees can grow to around 100 feet tall (though more typically to around 80 feet), with a spread of around 10 to 15 feet.
Alexandra palms are one of the most beautiful of all large palm trees, but because they’re not common in Florida, you’re not as likely to see them as you are to see other popular varieties.
If you want to add one to your landscape, you’ll need to live in zones 9b to 11.
The Alexandra Palm Tree has long feathery leaves and a grayish brown trunk. The Alexandra Palm prefers partial shade but can grow in full sun if the soil is kept moist. The Alexandra Palm makes a wonderful shade tree and prefers moist, well drained soils.
Florida Thatch Palm
The Florida thatch palm (Thrinax Radiata) is a type of palm tree that is native to Florida. These trees typically grow to around 30 feet tall, with a spread of around 10 to 15 feet. This palm tree is not typically grown as an ornamental throughout most of Florida, but it can be grown in zones 10 through 11.
Florida thatch palm trees have a native range that consists of the southern tip of Florida – Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Keys counties.
The natural habitat for these trees are in areas where the soil is sandy and dry. They also grow well in areas where there is high salt content in the soils or air.
The best way to care for this tree is to ensure it receives full sun exposure throughout the day. When planting this type of palm tree, make sure you plant it in well-drained soil; otherwise you risk root rot. This type of palm tree can tolerate drought conditions once established, but you should keep it watered regularly until then.
Florida Silver Palm
Florida silver palm trees (Coccothrinax argentata) are a type of palm tree that is native to Florida. These trees can grow to around 20 feet tall, but they typically stay between 6 and 10 feet in height, with a spread of around 6 feet. This palm tree is a very slow grower.
Like with the thatch palm, the native range is only at the southern tip of Florida. The tree is relatively small as well, with a trunk that is only 6″ in diameter.
It’s hardy in USDA zones 9b through 11, though it’s likely to sustain damage at temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 C).
In its natural environment, it grows in sandy soils and tolerates drought or flooding equally well. Once established, Florida silver palms are quite tolerant of salt spray and windy conditions.
Florida silver palms prefer partial shade to full sun, but will tolerate full shade if needed.
Red Latan Palm
The red latan palm, also known as latania lontaroides, is a type of palm tree that is native to the Mascarene Islands. These trees typically grow to around 20 to 35 feet tall, with a spread of around 25 feet.
The red latan palm gets its name from its red petioles (the leaf stems). The leaves are palmate, or have multiple leaflets coming out of the same stem.
Though this palm tree is sold as a landscaping plant in Florida, it is listed as an endangered species in its native habitat due to land being cleared in large amounts for farming and ranching.
The red latan palm thrives in full sun but will tolerate partial shade as well. Red latan palms will not tolerate cold temperatures; they need a warm climate year-round with temperatures never dropping below 28 degrees Fahrenheit (and will lose their leaves at these temperatures – temperatures above 50F are preferred).
African Oil Palm
The African Oil Palm, also known as Elaeis Guineensis, is a type of palm tree that is native to West Africa. These trees typically grow to around 40 feet tall, with a spread of around 30 feet.
This palm tree has a habit of self-seeding, making it slightly invasive when grown in Florida.
The African Oil Palm requires full sun to thrive and can tolerate temperatures down to 28 F. once established and typically grows at a medium rate of 1 to 2 feet per year.
The fruit the African Oil Palm produces can be used for making oil, which is used in the production of margarine, baking mixes, snacks and other foods. It is also used for industrial purposes such as soaps and candles.
Montgomery Palm
The Montgomery Palm, also known as Veitchia Arecina, is a type of palm tree that is native to Vanuatu. Though it doesn’t grow anywhere else naturally, it is the most commonly used palm tree in Florida from its genus.
These trees typically grow to around 25 to 35 feet tall, though it is said to be able to get to twice that if it’s allowed to get old enough. This palm tree is a relatively fast grower, and is most commonly grown as an ornamental plant in Florida by palm tree enthusiasts.
The Montgomery Palm has a slender and smooth trunk that grows up straight with no bulges or bends. It’s leaves are long and feather-like, ranging from light green to dark green in color. The flowers on the Montgomery Palm are small, white and yellowish brown in color.
Needle Palm
The Needle Palm, also known by the scientific name Rhapidophyllum hystrix, is a common palm tree that can be found in many parts of Florida. It is native to costal areas all across the southeastern United States up to South Carolina.
This relatively short palm only gets to 3 – 6 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide. In addition to being small, it’s also a slow growing plant.
The fronds of Needle Palms grow in a fan pattern and have 15 – 35 leaflets on each petiole. The leaflets are long and needle-like which give these palms their name.
Needle palms are one of the most cold tolerant palms in existence. They are able to survive temperatures as low as 5°F with little damage. If you’re looking for a palm that will easily survive freezing temperatures, this is one of your best bets!
Key Thatch Palm
The Key Thatch Palm, Thrinax Morrisii, is a type of palm tree that is native to the Florida Keys and other Caribbean islands. These trees typically grow to around 25 to 35 feet tall, with a spread of around 6 to 10 feet.
As its name suggests, this tree is a relative of the Florida thatch palm. It’s able to grow outdoors in hardiness zones 10B and 11. In areas where temperatures drop below 28 degrees F, these palms can be grown indoors in pots or containers, although they require a great deal of light.
Outdoors, the tree’s best growth happens in the full sun, but it can grow just fine in partial shade as well.
These trees are easy to grow, but they do require a moderate amount of maintenance. They should be planted in well draining soil, or in containers with good drainage holes. The soil should be kept moist but not wet. They prefer full sun to partial shade and regular watering during the growing season.
Ribbon Fan Palm
Livistona Decipiens, also known as the ribbon fan palm, is a common palm tree found in south Florida (though it is native to Australia).
The ribbon fan palm is well-adapted to the warm and humid climate of Florida, and can grow to around 30 to 50 feet tall. This tree is popular for landscaping purposes due to its attractive foliage and tall stature. It can be grown in hardiness zones 8b to 11.
The foliage of this tree is greenish-gray in color and resembles a fan. The leaves themselves are up to 12 feet long and 6 feet wide. The ends of the leaflets typically hang down, giving it the appearance of having a bunch of ribbons hanging from the tree.
Arikury Palm
Syagrus schizophylla, also known as the Arikury Palm, is a palm tree that is native to Brazil. This palm can be found in Florida being grown as an accent plant in landscaping, and can grow to around 10 to 12 feet tall.
The Arikury Palm is able to grow in hardiness zones 9b to 11, though colder winters in zone 9b may still cause damage to this plant.
Cat Palm
The cat palm is a common palm tree that can be found in many parts of Florida. It is native to southern Mexico and Central America, and can grow to around 6 to 8 feet tall. It is a clumping palm, meaning that it has a bunch of shorter stems rather than one large trunk.
It can be grown in zones 10 and 11 as a landscaping plant, and in other locations as a very nice looking indoor plant.
The most important thing to remember when caring for cat palms is that they should be kept moist, but never soggy. They do not like sitting in water, and will do best when the soil is a little moist but still has a lot of room left for air in the soil.
Soggy soil can lead to root rot, which will kill this pretty plant very quickly. Cat palms will also tolerate dry soil for very short periods of time but equally don’t like to be kept in dry soil.
Plant the cat palm in a location that receives partial shade to full shade throughout the day. The ideal location has afternoon shade to protect the plant from harsh afternoon sun which can burn the fronds. If planting outdoors in USDA hardiness zone 9B, select a location that offers protection from cold winter winds and frost.
Spindle Palm
The Spindle Palm, also known as Hyophorbe Verschaffeltii, is a palm tree that is native to the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean (much like the Red Latan Palm above). It is a medium-sized palm with a slender trunk that can get up to 25 feet tall.
The spindle palm can grow outdoors in zones 9b and further south without much issue. As it is a less common palm tree, it’s more commonly grown by palm tree enthusiasts looking for less common palms to grow.
Taiwan Sugar Palm
The Taiwan Sugar Palm is a tree that is grown most commonly as an ornamental plant, though its heart can be harvested as a source of sugar. The tree can also be used as a source for producing palm wine.
The Taiwan sugar palm – as its name might suggest – is native to Taiwan (as well as the Japanese Ryukyu Islands) and can grow to around 6 to 10 feet tall. The fruit of the Taiwan Sugar Palm have been known to cause allergic reactions to people who come in contact with them, so it’s best to handle them with caution.
Fiji Fan Palm
The Fiji Fan Palm is a palm tree that grows in the Pacific Islands – being native to Tonga but also now growing in Fiji and Samoa. (Despite its name, it is not actually native to Fiji.)
It is a medium-sized palm tree with fan-like leaves. It can grow to around 30 feet tall, with a trunk that’s just under a foot in diameter.
As the name might indicate, the leaves were once used by the people of Fiji as a fan as well as a makeshift umbrella of sorts.
Old Man Palm
The Old Man Palm is a less commonly grown palm that is native to Cuba. The Old Man Palm grows up to 30 feet tall and has somewhat fan shaped leaves that are typical of a lot of palm trees. The stem of this palm gets up to around 7-8 inches in diameter, though it appears wider because of the thatch that grows around its trunk.
This thatch is also where it gets its name, as it looks like it has a long beard. It is a slow growing palm, and it can grow as little as half a foot per year. It is also critically endangered in its native range due to over harvesting, though it is still available through nurseries in Florida.