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Backyard palm tree


Palm Trees for Transforming Your Yard Into Paradise

By

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor is an expert in architecture and landscape design who has written more than 1,000 articles about pool, patio, garden, and home improvement over 12 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and is certified in fine and decorative arts appraisal.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 12/17/21

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

No plant evokes an image of the tropics more than a palm tree, with its slender trunk and feather-like fronds that sway gently in the breeze. But with nearly 3,000 species in existence, not all palms are alike. If you live in a region that is suitable for growing palm trees, it's helpful to know which ones are best for back yards. Things to consider: ultimate height, size of property, what it will be planted near, soil conditions, and leaf or fruit drop.

These evergreen trees feature either fan-shaped (palmate) or feather-shaped (pinnate) compound leaves, or fronds. Palmate leaves—also known as fan palm leaves—have leaflets that radiate from the leaf's base. More of the cold-hardy palms have palmate leaves. Pinnates, aka feather palm leaves, have two rows of leaflets on each side of a stem.

We've researched palm trees to come up with some of the best ones for residential landscapes. One thing they have in common: they aren't the giant palms that line boulevards or glamorize casino entrances. 

For design purposes, we look at the best palmate palms.

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Welcome to our gallery of breezy backyard palm tree ideas. Do you want your yard to look like an oasis? Or maybe like a tropical escape?

The best tree to bring this kind of appeal to your yard is the palm tree. Palm trees are typically associated with tropical and warm regions, but there are many species of palm tree that can weather a great deal of different climates. If you want to build up some great tropic appeal you should consider a palm tree.

Palm trees are amazing at completing a full and interesting landscaping job with very few elements. What are the pros and cons of planting palm trees?

Pros

  1. Interesting look – Palm trees have a distinct look that can really make an impression. They elicit the feeling of getting away to exotic and warm locations.
  2. Storm resistant – Palms are great at standing up to powerful winds. If you are looking for plant options that will power through straight line winds and stay standing, a palm is your best bet.
  3. Provides instant landscaping – Palm trees have an appeal that can transform a patch of dirt into a oasis instantly. They are some of the only trees that work well alone without other elements and still deliver a complete and planned look.
  4. Care – Palms do not require much in terms of direct nutrition and care. There is not much attention you need to give to the palm tree aside from the trimming.

Cons

  1. Maintenance – Palm trees require some maintenance. Smaller trees can be easy to do on your own, but larger palm trees may require professional assistance. This can become costly over time.
  2. Sensitive to cold – Palm trees are sensitive to cold environments. A few species of palm can withstand a cold winter but many others can be permanently damaged by a single cold night. It is wise to do research on your area and the kinds of palms that can survive in your local climate. There are sites that can help you find what best suits your region. One such site can be found here.

When buying a palm tree the price depends on the particular tree and the height of the tree you select. A short palm can cost as little as $77. If you want a fully grown tree, those can potentially cost up to $800. (Source: Live Palm Trees)

The ongoing cost of owning palm trees is found in trimming and maintenance. Palm tree maintenance can be done by yourself, but it is safer and easier to hire professionals to take care of the job. One of the major contributing factors to trimming costs is the height of the tree.

Trees shorter than 30 feet can range between $75 and $400 to trim properly, while larger trees range from 0 and 00. Unkempt trees will cost more to trim. If a tree is maintained regularly each trimming will cost less. (Source: Tree Removal)

Find more backyard ideas in our definitive guide to backyards! 

The perfect place for planting a few palm trees is around your pool. Palms can give your pool that extra step toward a tropical getaway. Let the trees help take you away to paradise.

A mix of palms and tall grasses provides a lovely island feel. Put a reclining chair and umbrella in a spot like this and watch the wind sway the tall palms. You will be transported instantly.

Tropical Exterior by Bonita Springs Interior Designers & Decorators K2 Design Group, Inc.

Palm trees are great at providing instant landscaping. With very little other plant life, a couple of palm trees can make your space feel very full and alive. Use palm trees to cultivate an oasis vibe.

Palm trees provide good shade without taking up a great deal of ground space. The long and thin trunks of the trees keep the canopy high and out of the way. Very few branches will be in your way if you use palm trees.

There are many palm tree styles. Some are a bit shorter with a rounder base. This type of palm has great appeal and can give your poolside area a fantastic tropical feel.

Here are some palm trees providing wonderful instant landscaping. This space is relatively flat without too many stand out features, but the palm trees build an interesting and deep profile. See more of this home here. Designed by MM Architects

Palm trees look amazing next to water. They are at home when paired with bodies of water. This makes them ideal as poolside trees as well as when placed near any lakes you may have on your property.

Here are six palm trees lining a pool area. Symmetry is very easy to achieve with palm trees as their growth and shape are manageable and predictable. Some trees may grow in ways not conducive to symmetry, but palm trees are great for it.

When paired with other large leafed plants, palm trees can build a great tropical themed privacy hedge. This creates a wonderful and appealing barrier while maintaining your warm beach style.

Contemporary Exterior by West Palm Beach Interior Designers & Decorators Jacki Mallick Designs, LLC.

A couple of palm trees outside your window will not block your view but will still give the side of your home some landscaped appeal. The canopy that palm trees provide is both out of the way and visually appealing.

Not all palms are towering trees. Some palm trees are small and have a nice bark texture with a fun plume of leaves. These kinds of palms are great in small groups dotted around a yard.

A space only needs a couple of palms to achieve instant landscaping. This home has mostly flat land but the few trees give the space some depth. The palm tree adds the most personality to the yard, elevating it to another level. See more of this home here. Designed by Spagnuolo Architecture

These two palms stand tall near this pool area. They provide great shade for people who come here to relax by the pool and let the world slip away.

Palm trees give your property a very interesting skyline. This is especially true if you are not around many other large features. The palms spring out into the skyline with small bursts of leaves.

Palms can be used to divide a space without being too intrusive or becoming a barrier. Here are three lovely palms between a deck with a pool and the beachfront. The trees separate this area into two spaces but do not restrict movement between them. Source: Marco / Flickr

While palms are stunning trees on their own they also pair very well with other plants. In the right arrangement, the tropical aesthetic of the palms can be expanded upon and you can feel like you are in the midst of a lush island.

There is no better place to place a hammock than between two shady palms. This is the quintessential icon of tropical relaxation. Where else would anyone want to be than laying back with a cool drink?

Contemporary Exterior by Sarasota General Contractors Michael K. Walker & Associates Inc.

Not all palm trees grow straight up. Palms at an angle can give some interesting dynamics. The direction that the trees lean can give a sense of motion to your space.

One great thing about palms is that they can pop up over privacy walls, giving your eyeline a nice, dynamic profile to look at while floating in your pool on a warm summer day.

This yard built its landscaping profile with a few well placed palm trees. These trees sway through the wind as a storm rolls in. The sturdy palms will likely weather the storm just fine. See more of this home here. Designed by Dekleva Gregoric Arhitekti

Palm trees work well around fountains and other structures. These trees add some texture and depth while letting the central piece take the spotlight and focus.

Here is a path with a small lining of palms shading the entrance. This is a great job for palms. Palms often look very organized and can be lined up well to fit along paths or between features. Source: Zillow Digs™

Here is a great palm tree situated as a central focus of a flower garden. Palm trees can make marvelous focuses for gardens. They have wonderful textures and an interesting look that draws lots of attention.

These small flower beds have small palm trees in the center of them, building depth and visual interest. No matter the style of palm tree you choose there are other plants that pair well with them to make amazing dynamic profiles.

Palms go well with a minimalist design. They can enhance a landscape without being overwhelming or overly complicated. Their simple and sleek look is perfect for this design style. See more of this home here. Designed by STRANG Architecture

These palms stand on either side of a pair of matching benches on the waterfront. This is the perfect tropical style for sitting back, relaxing, and looking out over the water.

The fluffy poms on the tops of these palms are great for bolstering an exotic and tropical appeal. With a water feature like this, along with the palm trees, your yard will look like a palace courtyard.

When you have a pool that is near a lake a palm tree is the perfect feature to place between these two bodies of water. Source: Zillow Digs™

This infinity pool is lined with fantastic palm trees. These trees introduce a sense of motion down the length of the infinity pool and out to the ocean. Using trees like this can be great for drawing the eyeline in a desired direction.

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Lone Palm Tree Middle Beach Detail Palm Tree Top Background Atlantic — Stock Video © BlackBoxGuild #584292236

Lone Palm Tree Middle Beach Detail Palm Tree Top Atlantic Background — Stock Video © BlackBoxGuild #584292236

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