Which species of Palm Tree? (Pine: house, buying, cost)

[piratepilot]

If you're a snow bird I would stay away from palm trees until you move there permanently. They all require water, too much to go wrong while you're gone for the summer. Stick to some low maintenance cactus.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Agreed. Fast grower, look nice, little to no water. Only problem is old fronds need to be trimmed and they turn into telephone poles with green tops in about 20 years. So you have to plan to cut them down eventually and use them in groupings of different ages.

Please come to my neighborhood and take all the Mexican Palms you like. They really are a pain IMO. Ever see the damage when a bunch of fronds fall on your car when your driving down the street. Wouldn't be so bad if the city or neighbors kept them trimmed.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by motormaker

Please come to my neighborhood and take all the Mexican Palms you like. They really are a pain IMO. Ever see the damage when a bunch of fronds fall on your car when your driving down the street. Wouldn't be so bad if the city or neighbors kept them trimmed.

Are you sure they are Mexicans. The California palms drop fronds naturally after a while, but the Mexicans do not and when not trimmed develop massive skirts. The California palms can be identified by much more massive and smoother trunks and (of course) the absence of large frond skirts. Anyway, I still think the make the best landscape palm when young. By the time they are large enough to develop large frond skirts, they are too lanky looking for anything but an architectural plant and should be removed from a home landscape.

[thedreamteam]

I am now thinking a pygmy date palm.. anyone have any experience with this particular species?

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by thedreamteam

I am now thinking a pygmy date palm.. anyone have any experience with this particular species?

Great as a potted plant or planted in shade or morning sun exposure only. Very slow growing to about 6-8 feet tall. Click here for more details.
PlantFiles: Detailed information on Pygmy Date Palm, Robellini Palm Phoenix roebelenii

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Are you sure they are Mexicans. The California palms drop fronds naturally after a while, but the Mexicans do not and when not trimmed develop massive skirts. The California palms can be identified by much more massive and smoother trunks and (of course) the absence of large frond skirts. Anyway, I still think the make the best landscape palm when young. By the time they are large enough to develop large frond skirts, they are too lanky looking for anything but an architectural plant and should be removed from a home landscape.

Yep, pretty sure. The city spends many dollars trimming them, but that has slowed down do to the economy. I find new sprouts popping up in my yard all the time and blast them with Roundup. The guy across the street ignored one that sprouted in his yard by the curb and it finally cracked it and it had to be replaced. I am also familiar with the CA palms as my neighbor has a 40' one in his yard that is in danger of falling in high winds.

[cap1717]

Pigmy date palm is best with morning sun and or afternoon shade. . . sometimes a bit "tricky" to get established, and need a good water source, pretty much forever. They are attractive, however, small enough to avoid expensive "tree climbers" for trimming, and nice clean plants around a pool, for instance. . . but again, not at their best in full sun, especially when young!

[amosl]

Canary Island palms will grow fast and healthy; at least mine become gigantic in 5 years...yikes!

[wit-nit]

Mexican Fan Palms grow quite fast, Canary Island date Palms are normaly very slow growers.
http://www.canaryislandpalm.com.au/acip.htm

[thedreamteam]

Originally Posted by amosl

Canary Island palms will grow fast and healthy; at least mine become gigantic in 5 years...yikes!

do canary island palms require any shade? do the leaves need to be trimmed?