How do you grow palm trees
How to grow a palm tree |
(Image credit: Alamy)
Introduce instant scale, shape and drama to your real estate by learning how to grow a palm tree. The only way to bring true tropical charm to the yard, these stylish beauties are surprisingly slow growing making them the perfect choice for coastal or southern locations.
Grown in borders or in containers, palm trees add architectural detail to a garden and are perfect matched with other tropical plants and trees.
How to grow a palm tree
(Image credit: Alamy)
With their distinctive fan-shaped leaves, palm trees are instantly recognizable. Adding a tropical vibe, they can add instant interest to the smallest of yards with their evergreen foliage and unbeatable stature. Requiring just a little care they can last for years and prove a striking and memorable focal point. Let us take you through the basics of growing palm trees.
Where do palm trees grow best?
Although undeniably tropical, there is a wide range of palm trees that will grow in your yard. While some prefer shade and will falter in direct sunlight, others need sun to keep them healthy and will simply wilt and die off in deep shade. To be certain of making the right choice for your property always check with the nursery or retailer before you buy. It’s also worth knowing that once palm fronds are scorched or damaged, they do not tend to recover so will need to be removed.
Wind is also a key issue for palm trees, and whereas most types can generally flex and bend in a strong gale or hurricane there are some varieties that are tougher and more wind tolerant.
Jason Gilford from Architectural Plants says, 'Chamaerops humilis are so tough that they’ll grow in sun or shade. As with most plants the effect of shade is to draw the plant out (it’s looking for light) so the leaf stalks extend making the plant look open and elegant. Rarer and slower growing, Trachycarpus wagnerianus are remarkably well suited to windy gardens. We’ve planted a load of them at our nursery at the top of the drive – a constantly windy spot and they look perfect.
They’re both good – just different.'
If you do have space and strong winds are a problems Jason also suggests, 'planting in groves will also provide some additional protection for palms.'
What soil does a palm tree prefer?
As long as it’s free draining, palm trees tend to be happy in acidic, neutral or alkaline soil.
What temperatures will a palm tree grow in?
(Image credit: Sea Palms Estate / Nick Adams )
Most palm trees originate from tropical climates. Used to warm summers and mild winters, they are happy in zones where temperatures range from 95℉ (35℃) down to 78℉ (25℃).
There are few types of palm tree that will tolerate cooler conditions. Chusan or Windmill Palm, the Mediterranean Fan Palm or Chamaerops humilis and Trachycarpus wagnerianus, better known as Wagners Fan Palm will cope with temperatures as low as 40℉ (4℃) and even a light dusting of snow.
How to plant a palm tree
Most palm trees are shallow rooted so it’s well worth considering this when siting your palm and avoid positioning a large tree near to the house, as they can fall over in very high winds or hurricanes.
When it comes to planting, chances are your nursery grown palm will arrive in a plastic pot or fabric covered rootball, if it’s very big. Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball and deep enough so the top of the root sits just below the soil level. Carefully remove the covering from the pot, lower the palm into the hole and backfill.
Planting is best done during the spring as this will allow the roots to establish before cooler weather and stronger winds arrive.
How to grow a containerized palm tree
Varieties that thrive well in a container include the feathery Pygmy date palm which can grow between 6-12 ft (1.82-3.65m) outside in USDA Zones 10-11. For something smaller but just as quirky try the Ponytail Palm that will happily thrive on a patio in USDA Zones 9-11. The team at Lively Root say, ‘Although they look utterly whimsical, they are actually low maintenance and one of our favorite starter plants.’
‘Containers limit how large plants grow,’ say the team at Pennington Seed ‘so even naturally large palms stay manageable in pots.
’ They also add, ‘For potted palms, choose a fast-draining, yet moisture-retentive potting mix designed for container growing. Choose a large container with drainage holes that is heavy enough to offset your palm's size so it won't tip over easily.’
Pot grown palm trees will need be kept in moist but not wet soil, as their roots require plenty of air and rot if left in waterlogged soil. Rather than just looking at the soils surface to determined how wet it is always probe with a finger to ensure it is cool and moist.
How to support a palm tree
Palms trees are naturally shallow rooted, and if planted in open ground will need supporting. Rather than relying on stakes and ties, which tend to slide down the smooth trunks opt for a timber brace system. Constructed from timber stakes and bridges and encompassing the whole trunk, it will provide much more support than a single lumber stake.
How to nurture a palm tree
Providing they are thoughtfully positioned, most palms need little regularly attention.
‘We like to design informal borders, groves and distinguished avenues with beautifully fanned Jelly palms, spiky Chamaerops, slender Cordylines, and our favourite Chusan palms – the latter made even more elegant once you have stripped the trunk,’ says Jason Gilford, Architectural Plants Ltd.
'Maintaining palms is all part of the experience and there’s nothing more satisfying than removing dead or damaged leaves to keep them looking their architectural best. Anything brown, yellow or spotty should be eliminated. Most spots do no harm to the plant but they look unsightly – you can treat with a fungicide.'
Jill Morgan has spent the last 20 years writing for Interior and Gardening magazines both in print and online. Titles she has been lucky enough to work on include House Beautiful, The English
Home, Ideal Home, Modern Gardens and Gardeningetc.com. Although much of her career has involved commissioning and writing about reader homes and home improvement projects, her
everlasting passion is for gardens and outdoor living, which is what she writes about for Homes & Gardens.
Indoor Plant Care & Growing Guide
There are about 2,600 species of palm trees spread over 181 genera within the Arecaceae family of plants. Most are tropical or subtropical in origin, native to spots like South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. Most palms can be distinguished by their large, compound, evergreen leaves (known as fronds) that are arranged at the top of an unbranched stem.
In addition to their role as landscape trees in warmer climates, palm trees can be distinctive and wonderful indoor plants. Mature palms often adorn public spaces and foyers, adding an elegant and distinctly tropical air to the decor. At the same time, very small, immature palms can be used as a pop of greenery in homes.
It is tempting to think of palm trees as purely tropical plants—give them plenty of sunlight and water and they will be just fine. However, there are also desert varieties that will drown from too much water and still other varieties that cannot thrive without fertilizer.
Careful research on the particular species of palm you end up choosing is essential to growing it successfully. As a general rule of thumb, most palms can be planted in the early spring and will grow slowly, often adding less than 10 inches of height a year.
| Common Name | Palm tree |
| Botanical Name | Arecaceae family |
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Plant Type | Woody perennial trees and shrubs |
| Mature Size | Varies by species; miniature to towering giants |
| Sun Exposure | Partial shade |
| Soil Type | Moist but well-drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral to acidic |
| Bloom Time | Year-round (rarely flower indoors) |
| Flower Color | Varies by species; often yellow, orange, green, pink |
| Hardiness Zones | 7-11 (USDA) |
| Native Area | South America, the Caribbean, Asia, and more |
Palm Tree Care
In their habitats outdoors, palm trees grow best in full sun with annual fertilizer and don't require much water to thrive.
However, young palm trees need thorough, regular waterings to mature into healthy plants. When grown indoors, palm trees need consistently moist soil that doesn't become waterlogged (so a pot with good drainage is essential).
Palms are a group of plants that includes thousands of species from various biomes all over the world, and each has its own diverse needs. There are tropical, subtropical, and desert species, as well as palms that grow in cold-weather climates like Alaska. Some are understory plants that prefer shade and a moist, dark environment, while others love heat and sunshine. A good rule of thumb, if you want healthy palms, is to make sure you feed them frequently—whether you're growing them indoors or outdoors.
How to best display your palm depends on its specific size and growth habit. Many are perfect indoors as corner-specimen plants or foyer plants. Likewise, palms do very well in groups with smaller potted plants clustered at their base. Wherever you locate your palm, try to avoid placing it somewhere that experiences a lot of traffic brushing against or pulling on the fronds, as this will weaken (and possibly kill) the plant.
Keep in mind, your palm will likely not flower indoors, either. Many of the common species won't live long enough to flower or reach a mature size when kept as houseplants. Remember, some of these are full-fledged trees in the wild, so the lack of flowers is more than offset by the majestic spread of the plant.
If you take good care of your palm, there is a possibility that fronds could be brushing against your ceiling after a few years. Unfortunately, you can never top-trim a palm tree, as all palms grow from a central tip. If you remove the growing tip, the plant will die. So if you have a nearly-mature palm bursting from your house, congratulations—the next step is to seek a nearby hotel or office building looking for a wonderful interior plant.
Watch Now: How to Grow and Care for a Kentia Palm Indoors
Light
One of the reasons palm plants are such common houseplants is that they can easily adapt to low-light conditions. Most palms are tolerant of (or prefer) shade and may fail to thrive if they receive too much direct sunlight.
Low-light palm species prefer bright indirect light but also can tolerate less light, especially during the winter months.
Soil
The best soil for palm plants is a loose, porous mixture, like a combination of peat moss, leaf mold, and shredded bark. You can buy a cactus or palm soil mixture specifically made for growing palm plants—otherwise, they will grow just fine in a general-purpose commercial potting soil. If you're someone who tends to forget to water your plants, mix some peat moss or vermiculite into the general-purpose potting soil to help retain moisture.
Water
Good drainage is essential for healthy palm plants. Just because palms live in warm (sometimes tropical) regions does not mean they enjoy being waterlogged. In fact, many palms grow best in slightly sandy soils with ample drainage. Never let a palm's root ball sit in water and allow the plant's soil to dry out in-between waterings. You can also choose to plant your palm in a vessel made from terracotta or clay to help wick excess moisture from the soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Few palms will thrive in truly cold temperatures, and some, like the coconut palm, cannot tolerate any cold at all. Cold-hardy palms include the parlor palm and kentia palm, which explains why these are among the most popular indoor palms. As a general rule of thumb, palms prefer temperatures no lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fertilizer
Feed your palm regularly during its growing season. If possible, choose a palm fertilizer, which contains all the required micronutrients for a healthy palm, as well as extra potassium and manganese. Potassium deficiency is especially common in palms and can result in yellowing or brownish fronds. If you notice your palm turning, it may be time to increase your feedings.
Types of Palm Trees
There are hundreds and hundreds of different palm trees out there, with some better suited to an indoor environment than others. Some of the most popular palm trees for indoor growth include:
- Chinese Fan Palm Livistona chinensis : This palm tree boasts distinctive star-shaped leaves and a slow-growing habit.
Though mature Chinese fan palms can reach heights of 15 feet or more, most Chinese fan palms used in regular households (not offices or industrial buildings) are of the dwarf variety. - Areca Palm Dypsis lutescens : Also known as bamboo palm, areca palm trees have soft fronts and a tolerance for low light.
- Parlor Palm Chamaedorea elegans : Parlor palms have a reputation as some of the easiest indoor palm trees to care for—they need just average light and temperature, and require no special care beyond the occasional trim.
Pruning Palm Trees
The temptation to trim fronds is hard to resist, but many species of palms draw nutrients from old fronds long after they have begun to yellow or brown. It's a very common mistake to over-prune palm trees, which can weaken the overall plant and rob it of valuable nutrients. In general, remove only fully browned leaves and never cut your palm down to just one or two new fronds.
How to Grow Plam Trees From Seed
For most palms, air layering, cuttings, and division are typically not effective for propagating new trees. Usually, the best way to start a palm tree is from seed, which can be obtained through either a seed catalog or from a flowering tree.
Your first step will be to sprout the seed, which you can do by placing it in a container at least 4 inches deep with a thin layer of soil. Place the container in a warm, humid location while you wait for it to sprout—depending on the varietal, it can take two months or more for the seed to sprout.
Once the seed has sprouted, move the palm somewhere with abundant light and continue allowing it to grow. Feed the palm with a weak liquid fertilizer a few months into its growth period. Once the palm has grown several sets of leaves, you can transplant it into a larger container.
Potting and Repotting Palm Trees
Only repot a palm when it is completely pot bound. Palms often have shallow root systems and do not appreciate being disturbed frequently.
Many of the most common palm trees grown indoors want to become trees, and you can slow down growth by keeping them slightly pot-bound. If you don't repot your palm every year, it will grow at a more manageable rate.
Common Pests and Diseases
Indoor palms trees are often prone to potassium deficiency, signaled when the oldest leaves begin to die back, beginning with the tips. A controlled-release potassium supplement is the best treatment. But if the tips of all leaves turn brown, it is often due to excessive fertilizing.
Like other houseplants, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects can be a problem, especially if your palm trees are kept close to other houseplants that may be infected. Keep an eye out for telltale signs of infestation and treat the plant promptly using insecticidal soap or horticultural oil such as neem oil.
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Indoor Palms. Clemson Cooperative Extension.
Palm Diseases and Nutritional Problems. Clemson Cooperative Extension, December 20, 2017
Over-Pruning Harmful to Palms. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida.
Broschat, Timothy K. Palm Nutrition and Fertilization. American Society for Horticultural Science, 19,4,690-694,2009. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.19.4.690
why oil palm plantations are bad
The birthplace of oil palm is Africa. People used the oils of this tree in ancient Egypt, but in recent years, the production of palm oil has surpassed all indicators, and the tree itself now grows in almost all tropical countries. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm about this, but many cannot understand why, because a palm tree is a tree.
Ekaterina Belchikova
Today you will surely eat a portion of palm oil, without even thinking about the fact that it was brought from the dying tropics of the Earth
Oil palms are grown on both small family farms and large plantations. Today, palm oil is found in half of the products we buy: cookies, pizza, shampoos and soaps. Many people believe that palm oil is pure evil. However, it is usually accused of being harmful to the body. We have already talked about why this is not entirely true, but the production of palm oil can still be considered a “villain”, because it has a strong impact on the environment. nine0003
More and more tropical forests are being cut down by farmers for oil palm plantations. In poor countries, sometimes people resort to arson, as logging is illegal. This leads to the destruction of a huge number of populations of birds, plants and animals and greatly reduces biodiversity. Already, deforestation for palm plantations has affected orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers.
Today, due to deforestation, orangutans are endangered.
In addition, wildfires, which are gaining popularity to clear land, release high levels of carbon dioxide and soot into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. For example, in 2013, such fires were recognized as the cause of extreme air pollution in Singapore. A thick haze covered the city, and the authorities were forced to ask people to stay in their homes. nine0003
Amnesty International also reported at the end of 2016 that child labor was used on a plantation in Indonesia.
Why do people grow oil palms in such quantities? The fact is that palm oil is the best type of vegetable oil for production. This is a super efficient crop that produces much more product per area of land compared to others. Also, this type of tree does not require large amounts of pesticides or fertilizers when growing. Finally, the palm oil industry offers jobs to people living in poverty in developing countries.
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Now many countries where palm oil is produced are introducing rules and bans on deforestation, alas, but many people continue to illegally clear forests.
By the way, TechInsider has a new section called Company Blogs. If your organization wants to talk about what it does, write to us
Nymphaeums and "palms" in the quarry - unusual solutions for terrible conditions
The dacha, and with it the garden, appeared in the Noskov family with the birth of their son. Almost immediately, the garden got its name "Noskva" - after the names of the owners. But it took him a long time to get his look. Not without mistakes, especially since the site was full of surprises. nine0003
The site turned out to be long and narrow, and the ground on it is solid stones and construction debris. In addition, novice gardeners made the most common mistake: they wanted to plant everything at once, without having any preliminary plan.
But six years have passed, the owners have taken into account all the nuances, and the garden has become attractive and sophisticated. Yulia Noskova tells how different problems were solved.
Forget about "all at once"
Photo from the archive of Yulia Noskova
At first I did everything in rows, I wanted everything at once, bigger and brighter. Starting to study European gardens on the Internet, I realized that I was doing everything wrong. This is how the plot plan appeared, viewpoints were thought out, and we decided on the zones, theme and color of the garden.
Photo from Yulia Noskova's archive
Today, the "vegetative skeleton" of our site consists of trees and shrubs: the so-called "trees of power" - oaks, cedars; various conifers: pines, arborvitae, junipers. Conifers are the basis of our garden, they are beautiful at any time of the year. nine0003
Photo courtesy of Yulia Noskova
Shrubs are the second component of the garden.
We selected fast-growing species: vesicles (red-leaved, yellow), derains, lilacs, viburnum Buldenezh, mock orange, hydrangeas, of course, numerous barberries - the kings of the autumn garden.
Narrow space solutions
Photo from Yulia Noskova's archive
Our site is narrow and long, so we decided to visually divide it into two parts with a large shrub mixborder, thereby expanding the boundaries. Moving from one part of the garden to another, you, like Alice in Wonderland, find yourself in another, fabulous dimension with blooming nymphs, snow-white hydrangeas, wicker willows and a small vegetable garden. nine0003
Above ground pond
Photo from Yulia Noskova's archive
When buying a land plot, we ran into a problem. We have solid bricks and concrete slabs from an old barn in the ground, so digging a pond would be very difficult. The way out was found - to arrange an above-ground reservoir!
Photo from the archive of Yulia Noskova
The pond was made according to the needs of the nymphs, the depth should be 60-80 cm, and I planned the width to be 1.
5 × 1.5 m. This is the size for three or four containers with nymphs. They grow wider so I grow them in normal large pots. nine0003
The frame was made of bars and sheathed with clapboard, the top was decorated around the perimeter with a board (panel for doors) with a rounded border. I was very particular about painting.
The main color was chosen as the most trendy of the season - graphite, side pillars - burgundy. To give the well-pond sophistication, I made scuffs in some places and on the upper panels. This technique is called "shabby chic": first, the bottom layer of paint is applied, I have it brown, after drying, strokes are artistically applied with a candle. Next, the final coat of paint of the main color, after complete drying, these places are rubbed with a hard sponge for dishes - the lower brown color appears. So it turns out "shabby chic", as if this well has been for many years. How good this technique is for the street, that the more paint will crumble, the better.
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Photo from the archive of Yulia Noskova
An old banner was laid at the bottom of the well-pond, and a film for ponds was laid on top. They collected water, and then fixed the film at the top with a construction stapler.
My husband installed a cast-iron manual water pump at the corner of the well pond, which finished our idea. The nymphs were launched in May, I chose the most resistant variety Attraction , and by July they had grown leaves and began to bloom. The aroma from the flowers is simply awesome, and the flowers themselves seem to be molded from wax! Now I'm on fire with the idea of acquiring rarer varieties. nine0003
What to do with extremely poor soil
Photo from Yulia Noskova's archive
We got a terrible land - a quarry, you can't say otherwise. We dug up everything: bricks, 1.5-meter concrete slabs, iron parts from equipment, in some places literally layers of coal, and there was rubble everywhere.
The option to replace a meter of soil on 15 acres is very expensive and laborious, so it was decided to selectively excavate the soil where the plantings will be, sort out the stones, fill in the new earth. Hell of a job! nine0003
Also an exit - high beds. What we did in the garden part. They filled up the new earth, and every year I mulch the plantings with cut grass from the lawn mower, a sort of compost in the garden and mulch at the same time! The soil came to life, the best way of organic farming, under such a blanket, worms and microorganisms that our plants need so much live with great pleasure.
Weekend garden
Photo from Yulia Noskova's archive
Virtually walking through the gardens of England, I changed my view of the garden - it must be beautiful! nine0003
We have a small garden, most often we visit the dacha on weekends. We grow greens for salads, everyone has such a set: onions, basil, various salads, my favorite arugula, radish, dill, cilantro.
From vegetables, of course, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, carrots and beets. This year I want to try to grow cherry tomatoes in pots on the street, make an Italian patio, where instead of flowers there will be tomatoes and decorative multi-colored bush peppers.
Willow palms
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Photo from the archive of Yulia Noskova
My husband and I found the idea to make palm trees from willows on the Internet, and decided to try to implement it on our site. The case turned out to be very exciting and creative. Willow twigs were cut in a nearby ravine until the leaves bloomed. The rods must be straight, the same thickness.
They took construction black buckets, poured wet earth to the top and tamped it down. Then they stuck four rods around the circumference and intertwined them with neighboring ones. Each group was fixed with ropes, and so on to the very top. Then it was only necessary to ensure that the earth did not dry out. The willows stood almost in the water.
