I create this topics as It should be a popular question among newcomers like me when they want to start their Palm garden.

I wanted to plant a Majesty palm for example less than a meter away from a Banglow palm , then I thought it is not a good idea as they might interrupted each other in future and then I thought that as probably they wont have the same height when they will be growing then it doesn't matter as they are close each other as their fronds wont touch ...

Now I am not sure ...I have below palms which I want to plant and not sure haw far I should plant them from each other and also which palm will look nicer if they are beside each other...

also I read somewhere they will provide protection in winter ( any maybe full sun) if they plant near each other...

appreciate any comments and your idea and experiences...as I don't want to plant them and then have to remove them in future...

(possible planting sites in my property ):

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/47403-need-helpadvise-which-where-i-should-plant-palms/)

Jubaea chilensis
beccariophienix alfreidii
 Licuala elegans
Dypsis baronii
Dypsis pembana
Dypsis lanceolata
Kentiopsis oliviformis
Ravenea glauca

Chamaedorea  cataractarum

“Trachycarpus fortunei 

Butia capitate

Ravenea rivularis

I'm no expert but give the Jubaea room to grow and the beccariophoenix. i wouldn't plant the dypsis to close to the other dypsis that way each one kinda stands on there own. i saw from your link a driveway planter. trachycarpus would look nice lined down the driveway.

Just some general thoughts from having made many mistakes planting palms...

Palms will be there a long time, so surrounding trees may be much larger in decades to come.

Stay far away from power lines, palms look terrible when one side is hacked away.

Set the potted palm where you plan to plant it and leave it for a few days. Look at it from each side and see if you still like it. Pace off it's ultimate trunk and crown size.

Go around town and see how those palm species look in sun and shade and how much they stretch, etc. You can also look online, Palmpedia has a bunch of pictures, for example.

If you're like me, you'll probably wish you'd given them more space.

I'm no expert but give the Jubaea room to grow and the beccariophoenix. i wouldn't plant the dypsis to close to the other dypsis that way each one kinda stands on there own. i saw from your link a driveway planter. trachycarpus would look nice lined down the driveway.

Thanks for the advise , it might be a good idea as I think they wont grow wide so not blocking the way ...is the arrow location good? I have to check any palm that are not very wide might be suitable in the driveway as well.

Just some general thoughts from having made many mistakes planting palms...

Palms will be there a long time, so surrounding trees may be much larger in decades to come.

Stay far away from power lines, palms look terrible when one side is hacked away.

Set the potted palm where you plan to plant it and leave it for a few days. Look at it from each side and see if you still like it. Pace off it's ultimate trunk and crown size.

Go around town and see how those palm species look in sun and shade and how much they stretch, etc. You can also look online, Palmpedia has a bunch of pictures, for example.

If you're like me, you'll probably wish you'd given them more space.

Just some general thoughts from having made many mistakes planting palms...

Palms will be there a long time, so surrounding trees may be much larger in decades to come.

Stay far away from power lines, palms look terrible when one side is hacked away.

Set the potted palm where you plan to plant it and leave it for a few days. Look at it from each side and see if you still like it. Pace off it's ultimate trunk and crown size.

Go around town and see how those palm species look in sun and shade and how much they stretch, etc. You can also look online, Palmpedia has a bunch of pictures, for example.

If you're like me, you'll probably wish you'd given them more space.

Thanks for the nice advise ...I am worry about Full sun as almost all part of the yard getting full sun from morning to afternoon, I want to plant " " to give them area but worry they will be scorched, my plan was plant  Ravenea rivularis , Butia capitate , Ravenea glauca and beccariophienix alfreidii  in the open yard as they will get big , but again was worry about full sun specially on "Ravenea rivularis" as I saw the burnt some under sun ( See below picture) and eventually I want to get rid of all grass and make it a Garden.

I think your problem with leaf damage has to do with the palms being used as indoor plants. It can take a bit of time for them to adjust to changed conditions. During that time the palms don't look their best but slowly regrow a full crown of sun hardy leaves.

I think your problem with leaf damage has to do with the palms being used as indoor plants. It can take a bit of time for them to adjust to changed conditions. During that time the palms don't look their best but slowly regrow a full crown of sun hardy leaves.

Thanks Pip,

What do you think about my plan ( above picture) , would you do that or you would plant something else elsewhere ?, still I am afraid of planting "Jubaea" anywhere

Mohsen, looking at the picture above, I think there is room for 2 palms at the most, even more so when considering the existing tree(s) in the ground. B. alfredii can grow to a monster, taking up half of that area just for itself, although it's slow. You might be able to fit a ravenea in there somewhere, but the becky and the butt will have a fight.

Mohsen, you ask one of those palm questions for the ages, which varies all over the place.

The answer is

IT DEPENDS

Mohsen, you ask one of those palm questions for the ages, which varies all over the place.

The answer is

IT DEPENDS

thanks Dave... Depnds on what? Taste?or types of palms?

Mohsen, looking at the picture above, I think there is room for 2 palms at the most, even more so when considering the existing tree(s) in the ground. B. alfredii can grow to a monster, taking up half of that area just for itself, although it's slow. You might be able to fit a ravenea in there somewhere, but the becky and the butt will have a fight.

Mohsen, looking at the picture above, I think there is room for 2 palms at the most, even more so when considering the existing tree(s) in the ground. B. alfredii can grow to a monster, taking up half of that area just for itself, although it's slow. You might be able to fit a ravenea in there somewhere, but the becky and the butt will have a fight.

Thanks Pando? Really ?, I wanted to add "Jubaea" in between too 

Maybe in the photo it looks smaller than it is , from back to front it is at least 14-15 m. so I thought 3 meter between each palm should be enough??!!!

I thought I might have something like below photos:

 

 

I think your spacing is fine, as each species will grow at their own pace although I appreciate what others have said it makes it difficult to veiw an individual palm when crammed in amongst others, from the pics you shared you obviously like the look of canopy leaves touching. I dislike planting in straight lines but at times it is un avoidable. When planting palms in lines or avenues keeping to one species is more esthetically pleasing. Mohsen your creating a collectors garden so anything goes. Get creative think about the mature form and leaf colour.  If your going to get rid of the lawn do it now and replace it with a good quality mulch. 

I think your spacing is fine, as each species will grow at their own pace although I appreciate what others have said it makes it difficult to veiw an individual palm when crammed in amongst others, from the pics you shared you obviously like the look of canopy leaves touching. I dislike planting in straight lines but at times it is un avoidable. When planting palms in lines or avenues keeping to one species is more esthetically pleasing. Mohsen your creating a collectors garden so anything goes. Get creative think about the mature form and leaf colour.  If your going to get rid of the lawn do it now and replace it with a good quality mulch. 

I think your spacing is fine, as each species will grow at their own pace although I appreciate what others have said it makes it difficult to veiw an individual palm when crammed in amongst others, from the pics you shared you obviously like the look of canopy leaves touching. I dislike planting in straight lines but at times it is un avoidable. When planting palms in lines or avenues keeping to one species is more esthetically pleasing. Mohsen your creating a collectors garden so anything goes. Get creative think about the mature form and leaf colour.  If your going to get rid of the lawn do it now and replace it with a good quality mulch. 

Thanks Pip

Another consideration is to place Fan palms and Feather palms beside each other or not ? I was also thinking to plant my "Trachycarpus fortunei " and "Livistona chinensis" in the driveway...I hop they wont block the driveway in future

Mohsen, you ask one of those palm questions for the ages, which varies all over the place.

The answer is

IT DEPENDS

thanks Dave... Depnds on what? Taste?or types of palms?

The size of your place, your climate.

The kinds of palms you want.

If you pick the right ones, you can have a lot of plants in a small place and not get too crowded. On the other hand, with some large ones, one is a crowd.

Mohsen, you ask one of those palm questions for the ages, which varies all over the place.

The answer is

IT DEPENDS

thanks Dave... Depnds on what? Taste?or types of palms?

The size of your place, your climate.

The kinds of palms you want.

If you pick the right ones, you can have a lot of plants in a small place and not get too crowded. On the other hand, with some large ones, one is a crowd.

Thanks Dave

all above variables are known now as I will be planting :

ubaea chilensis
beccariophienix alfreidii
 Licuala elegans
Dypsis baronii
Dypsis pembana
Dypsis lanceolata
Kentiopsis oliviformis
Ravenea glauca

Chamaedorea  cataractarum

“Trachycarpus fortunei 

Butia capitate

Ravenea rivularis

 

site :http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/47403-need-helpadvise-which-where-i-should-plant-palms/)

Climate : Sydney

So what is your idea about this?

 

i would plant like three trachy evenly spaced along the driveway. also you probably want as many different species as possible but i think groups of the same species look better than many different framed together. i would stay away from livistonia chines is thorns and i prefer the look of tracheas better.

Plant anything you can get your hands on and let the survivors prevail. At least that is the motif in my yard. 76 species on a .25 acre.

 

Palms grow better if they have little or no competition for food, and certain palms are notoriously gross feeders, ie Dypsis Lutescens.  I'd plant palms sparingly as apposed to jamming as much as possible in a small space.  As well, you need to visualise what the palm will look like it 10 years as apposed to now.

 

 

 

Sorry Mohsen,

It seems to me that the choice of the species is as important as the space you give to them;
I think you mix subtropical and tropical species; I am not sure Trachycarpus fortunei would match well with Licuala elegans.
(I must admit I love real tropical gardens and not so much the "swiss Riviera" palms (Trachy) I see daily on the lake of Geneva).

Dypsis, Ravenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala belong to one world, Jubea and Trachycarpus to an other.

Will your garden in Sydney refer to Côte d'Azur gardens (mediterranean style you may meet in California) or to Balinese gardens (tropical atmosphere  you can find in Florida)?

 

Plant anything you can get your hands on and let the survivors prevail. At least that is the motif in my yard. 76 species on a .25 acre.

 

Me too.

176 species on half an acre. Last I counted.

Sorry Mohsen,

It seems to me that the choice of the species is as important as the space you give to them;
I think you mix subtropical and tropical species; I am not sure Trachycarpus fortunei would match well with Licuala elegans.
(I must admit I love real tropical gardens and not so much the "swiss Riviera" palms (Trachy) I see daily on the lake of Geneva).

Dypsis, Ravenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala belong to one world, Jubea and Trachycarpus to an other.

Will your garden in Sydney refer to Côte d'Azur gardens (mediterranean style you may meet in California) or to Balinese gardens (tropical atmosphere  you can find in Florida)?

 

Thanks Doran for the useful comment

I myself prefer more tropical atmosphere garden and I hope the Sydney weather allows that...

I already came to conclusion that Trachycarpus wont match others so I will plant it in back drive way ...

I believe from your comment that Dypsis, Ravenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala could be matched to a "tropical atmosphere garden"?? ...I have full sun from morning to afternoon which worry  me ...

I don't think I have a place for Jubea, I might keep it in pot till plant it somewhere else ...

Regards

Mohsen

Dypsis, Ravenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala could be matched to a "tropical atmosphere garden"?? ...I have full sun from morning to afternoon which worry  me ...

You're right, Dypsis can be the species enjoying full sun, but the others don't .
Can you get some other trees canopy, planting fast growing  trees you'll cut after few years?

( I am sorry, I am really ignorant with australian context, other Palmtalk members will give better advice).

Dypsis, Ravenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala could be matched to a "tropical atmosphere garden"?? ...I have full sun from morning to afternoon which worry  me ...

You're right, Dypsis can be the species enjoying full sun, but the others don't .
Can you get some other trees canopy, planting fast growing  trees you'll cut after few years?

( I am sorry, I am really ignorant with australian context, other Palmtalk members will give better advice).

Thanks Doran

I thought avenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala  will also thrive in full sun...if not I don't know where I should plant them    ...Unfortunately I don't think I could plant other trees for heir canopies ,,,

That would be great  if I know  which one of mine ( below list)  will do in full sun ?

Jubaea chilensis
beccariophienix alfreidii
 Licuala elegans
Dypsis baronii
Dypsis pembana
Dypsis lanceolata
Kentiopsis oliviformis
Ravenea glauca

Chamaedorea  cataractarum

“Trachycarpus fortunei 

Butia capitate

Ravenea rivularis

I dislike planting in straight lines but at times it is un avoidable.

Some of mine are in straight lines and I really wish I didn't do that - staggering them by at least a foot or two from the line makes them much more interesting and natural looking.

Plant anything you can get your hands on and let the survivors prevail. At least that is the motif in my yard. 76 species on a .25 acre.

Also very good advice. Some stuff will just not grow in any location in your garden for whatever reason. Other stuff that really shouldn't just happens to thrive and become real favourites.

You mentioned mixing feather palms with fan palms - big big plus in the long term. Areas with only one or the other - even with fantastic specimens, end up looking a bit boring.

Cheers

Maurice

Sorry Mohsen,

It seems to me that the choice of the species is as important as the space you give to them;
I think you mix subtropical and tropical species; I am not sure Trachycarpus fortunei would match well with Licuala elegans.
(I must admit I love real tropical gardens and not so much the "swiss Riviera" palms (Trachy) I see daily on the lake of Geneva).

Dypsis, Ravenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala belong to one world, Jubea and Trachycarpus to an other.

Will your garden in Sydney refer to Côte d'Azur gardens (mediterranean style you may meet in California) or to Balinese gardens (tropical atmosphere  you can find in Florida)?

 

Thanks Doran for the useful comment

I myself prefer more tropical atmosphere garden and I hope the Sydney weather allows that...

I already came to conclusion that Trachycarpus wont match others so I will plant it in back drive way ...

I believe from your comment that Dypsis, Ravenea, Kentiopsis and Licuala could be matched to a "tropical atmosphere garden"?? ...I have full sun from morning to afternoon which worry  me ...

I don't think I have a place for Jubea, I might keep it in pot till plant it somewhere else ...

Regards

Mohsen

In my opinion, I'd find a spot for your Jubea and get it in the ground now. Your heading into your growing season. Of course my opinion is biased. My climate does not allow a Jubea to thrive. I've wanted one since the first photo I ever saw (25 years ago) one.

Hi. I would only be confident planting the Judaea , trachycarpus , butia and Ravenna rivularis ln full sun .A Foxtail would be a good palm for full sun and easy to buy in Sydney. Also another good one would be dypsis leptocheilos (red neck) 

steve

Hi. I would only be confident planting the Judaea , trachycarpus , butia and Ravenna rivularis ln full sun .A Foxtail would be a good palm for full sun and easy to buy in Sydney. Also another good one would be dypsis leptocheilos (red neck) 

steve

Thanks Steve

I thought Dypsis baronii, Syagrus schizophylla, and specially Beccariophienix alfreidii and even Licuala elegans are full sun hardy ?!

and by the way where is the best to buy palms in Sydney?, so far I only found Palmland with some species, all other general nurseries have very few limited types ( they don't even not even Wodyetia bifurcata )

and do we have any member here who have  a established palm garden in Sydney ?

Mohsen:

You have room for all of your plants, with the possible exception of Jubaea.

The trunk on a Jube -- all by itself -- will get to be about 6 feet (2M) across; the crown is another easy 5 M or more. That is a one-palm crowd. Give them lots of room. Put them at least 2 M away from a structure.

If you plant one and later have to move it, Jubes are easy to move, for the Jube. Their massive weight makes it hard on the mover.

Also another good one would be dypsis leptocheilos (red neck) 

Right! see:

Dypsis leptocheilos in august 2012:

the same in august 2015:

 

 

More fan palm species would help balance things out IMO. Certain species look great together. Butia with Sabal for instance. I have found Phoenix look good with L. decora. Some species don't look so good next to each other....never liked Phoenix/Butia mixture much. .....So back to my original comment....fan/feather combo's in general look pretty good.

Hi. I would only be confident planting the Judaea , trachycarpus , butia and Ravenna rivularis ln full sun .A Foxtail would be a good palm for full sun and easy to buy in Sydney. Also another good one would be dypsis leptocheilos (red neck) 

steve

Thanks Steve

I thought Dypsis baronii, Syagrus schizophylla, and specially Beccariophienix alfreidii and even Licuala elegans are full sun hardy ?!

and by the way where is the best to buy palms in Sydney?, so far I only found Palmland with some species, all other general nurseries have very few limited types ( they don't even not even Wodyetia bifurcata )

and do we have any member here who have  a established palm garden in Sydney ?

Hi. I would only be confident planting the Judaea , trachycarpus , butia and Ravenna rivularis ln full sun .A Foxtail would be a good palm for full sun and easy to buy in Sydney. Also another good one would be dypsis leptocheilos (red neck) 

steve

Thanks Steve

I thought Dypsis baronii, Syagrus schizophylla, and specially Beccariophienix alfreidii and even Licuala elegans are full sun hardy ?!

and by the way where is the best to buy palms in Sydney?, so far I only found Palmland with some species, all other general nurseries have very few limited types ( they don't even not even Wodyetia bifurcata )

and do we have any member here who have  a established palm garden in Sydney ?

hi .i have  Dypsis baronii growing in near full sun. I think it should be ok in full sun.l know they say licuala elegans takes full sun but I would not risk it. Not sure about the other two you mentioned.

we are very limited in Sydney with places to buy palms.most nurseries all sell the same stuff. Palmland would be about the best . Another one worth trying is impact plants at empire bay which is a bit further north but well worth a look . They have a great Palm garden there too.

the best place to buy palms is take a drive to Queensland and go to palms for Brisbane . He would also transport them down for you.

my garden is about 5 years old , so still has a lot of growing to do.

you should go to a Sydney tropical plant society meeting . There are a lot of members with great Palm gardens . There is also a plant auction at every meeting , a lot of the palms and plants sold are more collectors plants. Meetings are at concord community centre 1a Gipps st concord.

steve

 

Plant anything you can get your hands on and let the survivors prevail. At least that is the motif in my yard. 76 species on a .25 acre.

 

Me too.

176 species on half an acre. Last I counted.

This is what I'm doing too. 40+ species on .26 acres. You can always remove a palm if it's not working. 

See...not so good

You're holding up traffic David

Sometimes high density can be great.

Here's a recent garden in a PSSC meeting.

You can overdo density, of course.

But, in general, density is my style.

Sometimes others do better pics of you than you. Josh-O's pic of my place, complete with Haka-haka-hooey Mobile.

On the other hand, sparsity has its good points, too.

Some of my prized Dypsis, saintluciei on the left front, leptocheilos, white trunk background, and Archontophoenix alexandrae beatrice, left of leptocheilos.

Edited October 31, 201510 yr by DoomsDave

Also another good one would be dypsis leptocheilos (red neck) 

Right! see:

Dypsis leptocheilos in august 2012:

the same in august 2015:

 

 

Keep in mind that Leptos aren't as fast in Sydney (or La Habra) as they are in Sri Lanka

BUT!

They are worthwhile, oh yeah. Note pics above.

Mohsen:

You have room for all of your plants, with the possible exception of Jubaea.

The trunk on a Jube -- all by itself -- will get to be about 6 feet (2M) across; the crown is another easy 5 M or more. That is a one-palm crowd. Give them lots of room. Put them at least 2 M away from a structure.

If you plant one and later have to move it, Jubes are easy to move, for the Jube. Their massive weight makes it hard on the mover.

Thanks Dave

I will keep Jubea in pot , not enough room at my place...I will find a public park eventually and will  put it there ( already done for a Bullbay magnolia ( will be 25M Tall 25 M Wide) ,,,Plant it at green area near the office ( think it is not legal though )