Suggested trees/plants/flowers for screen-caged lanai (Mango: to buy, maintenance)

[Avalon08]

I am getting my lanai renovated and will have a screen cage put around the outdoor area. When they pour the concrete foundation, I've asked them to leave a small free-form area of dirt at the end of the lanai in which I can plant trees or shrubs that will give it a tropical feel -- I intend to put some uplighting in, etc. Only problem is, I have a black thumb. I need stuff that is low-maintenance. There is a hose bib there but I don't want to have to water a lot (physical issues). The cage will allow this area to get rain and filtered sun. The fenced lanai faces south so it gets direct overhead sun and then is shady in late afternoon. It's a very small area, only about 6'x4'. I am envisioning a 6'-ish palm (?) of some sort surrounded by smaller shrubs of varying heights and hopefully some flowers. I would love to hear suggestions from those of you with green-thumbs out there. I will have to buy the plants and have someone plant them for me.

[bbronston]

I have a black thumb, too, but I can offer an observation. I've seen many pool and lanai cages with planting areas and most of them have the same problem...the palms and other plants eventually grew higher and wider than anticipated and ended up against the screen or thru the screen. Whatever you decide on, I'd be sure to confirm that the plant will stay well within the available space.

[Cardiff by the Sea]

Phoenix roebelenii aka pigmy date palm

Max out at 10 - 12 feet

Pygmy Date Palm Tree - Phoenix roebelenii

[TamRE]

Plant something low that does not have leaves or flower petals that will end up all over the place. A desert rose or other succulent type plant that doesn't require a lot of water like an aloe would be good. Be sure to check the height and width expansion of the plant before planting otherwise you will be removing it a few years down the road. Also, you probably do not want something that requires trimming.

[Rogerluli]

My favorite short/small palms are bottle palms...There are also cycads that look like palms and are even shorter...Check out all of them on a great online resource...south florida plant guide...

[Cardiff by the Sea]

Maybe the screen in the lanai is fine enough to keep out mosquitoes. If it is not, you would want to avoid plants that hold water like bromeliads. They are mosquito incubators.

[beninfl]

Everyone seems to get the same stuff. Get an Orange Tree! Or a Mango Tree, Cocktail Fruit Tree, something neat that you can actually eat

[photoman_6]

Originally Posted by beninfl

Everyone seems to get the same stuff. Get an Orange Tree! Or a Mango Tree, Cocktail Fruit Tree, something neat that you can actually eat

that sounds like an excellent idea, though i don't know if they need bees for pollination.

There are hybrid and dwarf varieties of citrus that will grow in limited spaces, including large pots and barrels. . Meyer lemons, limes and regular lemons, maybe small oranges. They normally don't require much additional watering except as required in very dry spells. If potted, then they probably will require more.

I have the same situation with one large palm that we trim twice a year, and a smaller one with what I believe to be crotons (for color). Rarely needs additional watering.

[beninfl]

I can't speak for if other trees need pollination, but my two orange and single mango trees just keep making fruit without any special care or treatment. YMMV.

[DragonflyMom]

One of my favorite things to do is put smaller plants in the pots with bigger plants. For example, at the base of your palm, plant some vinca or begonias. You'll get that color and cover the soil at the same time. Based on your lighting, even New-Guinea impatients would work.

I bought a dwarf lime for my lanai area just 3 weeks ago, and it has already bloomed and started producing 2 tiny limes. I think the pollination thing is not something you need to worry about.