More palm trees in Houston? (Live Oak, Livingston: neighborhoods, to buy, living)

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by JoeHito

They can look nice but there's a reason they're not native to the inland areas. I think it's better to select vegetation that's native to the area personally. Palms use more water and don't provide as much shelter from the sun. We need all the water we can get in some years so planting water hungry trees is not the best idea.

They are probably more relevant if you live near the coast but not inland.

The native range of the dwarf palmetto extends well into Northeast Texas. The Texas palmetto may or may not be native to Houston, but it can be found growing naturally in some inland areas of southern Texas. Cabbage palms are another inland growing tree.

Crape myrtles aren't native to the area but those are planted like they grow $100 bills.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by naadarien

I wouldn't really consider Houston to be "inland." Dallas, sure.

Even much of DFW is part of the Gulf Coastal Plain. Certain species of palms can do well up there, too.

[naadarien]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

Even much of DFW is part of the Gulf Coastal Plain. Certain species of palms can do well up there, too.

I wasn't suggesting palms wouldn't grow or be native to Dallas. Just responding to the totally inaccurate notion that Galveston could be coastal, but not Houston.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by naadarien

I wasn't suggesting palms wouldn't grow or be native to Dallas. Just responding to the totally inaccurate notion that Galveston could be coastal, but not Houston.

Oh, I wasn't trying to negate your point. Just adding my two cents.

[xiabelle]

Not a fan of palms at all. I just don't like them. For me, Houston doesn't feel like a tropical city even if it is subtropical, and I tend to reserve palms for more directly coastal areas in my head.

Give me an oak tree any day. That look is more what I prefer.

[Yn0hTnA]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

As I mentioned, the Canary Island palms can look nice in certain situations. The taller palms are unequivocally out of place, tacky, and shameful, especially as street trees (for which shade is a prime function). That First Colony Mall photo shows how horrible they are - how could you claim that as evidence for pro-tall-palms? This isn't even up for update. First Colony needs to remove those post-haste and replace them with broadleaf native Texas trees, such as Shumard oaks, or even a deciduous non-broadleaf such as Texas Cypress. What a horrible choice they made.

Oh please, the palms are obviously healthy and fine. They blend in well with the environment, and offer a nice aesthetic blend with the other vegetation. You know in your heart that your argument merely is based on your contempt for them.

Originally Posted by JoeHito

They can look nice but there's a reason they're not native to the inland areas. I think it's better to select vegetation that's native to the area personally. Palms use more water and don't provide as much shelter from the sun. We need all the water we can get in some years so planting water hungry trees is not the best idea.

They are probably more relevant if you live near the coast but not inland.

Many of the palm species native to Houston have ranges that extend to inland areas, not just in Texas, but also other parts of the Southeast, including the Dwarf Palmetto, and Cabbage Palmetto. Palms grow naturally wherever the environment/climate is suitable, whether the location is inland or coastal.

Water usage isn't a worry for many palms planted in Houston; a lot of non-native species planted in the city come from areas of the world with much drier climates than Houston, like from desert climates, or Mediterranean climates. These include the Washingtonias, and many date palm species. With that, Houston is more than wet enough to sustain these palms. All this ignores the fact that water, pretty much, is the last thing Houston worries about, no different from other Southeastern US cities.

And frankly, it doesn't matter if the flora being planted is native or not; if they grow well in Houston's climate, then they can be planted as much as possible. Houston, like the rest of the coastal Southeastern US, is blessed with an epic humid subtropical regime featuring mild winters, and tropical-like summers, allowing for it to be an Eden, great for cultivating large varieties of flora. Enough with the weak arguments.

Originally Posted by naadarien

I must be missing something because those trees at First Colony are well cared for and look exactly as they should (though they do look recently groomed in these pics). They aren't meant to be shade trees though. Not sure why anyone would think they would be.

I have no problem with palms if they are taken care of. I am from the land of streets lined with palms. They can certainly look pretty. Spent many hours looking at and watching them sway in the ocean breezes as a kid. I wouldn't really consider Houston to be "inland." Dallas, sure. Houston is definitely transitional, which means you are likely to see a mix of vegetation (inland and coastal).

Coastal Marshes

All the vegetation in the Houston area evolved with the ocean-influenced humid subtropical regime that is Houston's climate; thus, even vegetation that grows well-inland in Texas, let alone just Houston, is, in a way, influenced by the ocean. The influence comes in the form of the many epic Gulf thunderstorms that provide the water that allows these plants to be luscious and full.

Originally Posted by xiabelle

Not a fan of palms at all. I just don't like them. For me, Houston doesn't feel like a tropical city even if it is subtropical, and I tend to reserve palms for more directly coastal areas in my head.

Give me an oak tree any day. That look is more what I prefer.

Palms aren't strictly tropical plants; many species are native to subtropical areas like the Southeastern US, including around Houston. Palms grow wherever the environment is suited for them, whether inland, or by the sea. Your argument makes no sense.

[Yn0hTnA]

These palms look tacky and unnatural, right? The area they are in is far from tropical paradise, and is well inland from the coast, right in the middle of the desert too!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washingtonia_filifera

[Yn0hTnA]

Natural growing palms in the Houston area, along the bottom-land forest region by the Brazos River (from Fortbend to Brazoria counties):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jtwilliams10/16604608091


http://static.inaturalist.org/photos...jpg?1412171230


https://www.flickr.com/photos/jtwilliams10/16090399243

[LocalPlanner]

My objections to tall spindly palms (sorry don't know the correct names for them) is that they make terrible street trees and primary landscaping statements (front door, processional etc.). That is undeniable. Just because they can grow well here doesn't mean they are good statement-making plants. Are there not many other plants which grow well in Houston that are wholly inappropriate for primary landscaping features in an urban setting?

[Yn0hTnA]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

My objections to tall spindly palms (sorry don't know the correct names for them) is that they make terrible street trees and primary landscaping statements (front door, processional etc.). That is undeniable. Just because they can grow well here doesn't mean they are good statement-making plants. Are there not many other plants which grow well in Houston that are wholly inappropriate for primary landscaping features in an urban setting?

There are many "tall, spindly palms," that grow throughout the Houston area. Here are just some of the more commonly known varieties:

Washingtonia Filfera, or the California Fan Palm, are the palms shown in the Palm Canyon pic I had; these are the palms that make the "skirt" when left untrimmed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washingtonia_filifera

Washingtonia Robusta, or Mexican Fan Palm, resemble the California Fan Palm, but they attain taller heights:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washingtonia_robusta

Sabal Palmetto, or Cabbage Palm, is native to the Southeast US coast; this palm is one of many species that line the Highland Village area:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabal_palmetto

Sabal Mexicana, or Texas Sabal Palmetto resembles the Cabbage Palm, but is shorter, and stockier. They also can be seen growing along the Highland Village area:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabal_mexicana

I don't think palms detract from an urban setting; in fact, I think that they add a great flavor to the environment. Just look at how exotic, chic, and sexy places like Highland Village and River Oaks look:
Highland Village:




River Oaks: