Ideas please: Smaller 9B palms with a narrow canopy for low humidity, full sun.

[BayAndroid]

So I have a raised planter which will have good drainage and is on a cement block wall. This location will get full all day sun and my climate is a 9b almost 10a. My climate is Mediterranean, so low relative humidity in the summer months. The space is a little limited, so I'm considering palms that don't have a large spread. 

What are some good sun loving options? 

 

Thank you! 

[tim_brissy_13]

How wide is the planter? Maybe things like Chrysalidocarpus ambositrae, Syagrus schizophylla. Chrysalidocarpus onilahensis if you can find a solitary or sparsely clumping one. Potentially Chamaedorea radicalis or C plumosa if your summer sun/heat isn’t to extreme. 

[happypalms]

 If given a reasonable water supply  cocothrinax Alta allagoptrea arenaria cocothrinax eckmanii 

[aztropic]

Most varieties of Thrinax and Coccothrinax stay very petite,take full sun and low humidity,and are also slow growing. Sounds just like what you are searching for.

Here is a pic of my mature Coccothrinax borhidiana (hybrid) as an example.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[Chester B]

Not considered the most exciting palm, but it should be care free - Chamaerops humilis "cerifera"

[aztropic]

1 minute ago, Chester B said:

Not considered the most exciting palm, but it should be care free - Chamaerops humilis "cerifera"

Yes! Another good choice if you don't mind the spiny petioles. Here's an example I brought back from Florida as a 1 gallon, planted about 20 years ago, growing under desert conditions.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[aztropic]

Again,if you don't mind spines, Zombie palm is a petite clumper, very similar to Coccothrinax species. Here's one I grew from seed.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[tim_brissy_13]

Coccothrinax, Thrinax and Zombia would have to be marginal at best in the SF Bay Area right? Not just absolute cold, but I’d assume lack of heat would be a limiting factor. Schippia concolor does ok for me and may be worth a shot if a palm like the above is what you’re going for, but they’re probably no hardiest to cool conditions than a couple of the more robust Coccothrinax like C barbadensis. 

[Palmfarmer]

I would try a Kentia 

[BayAndroid]

On 1/24/2024 at 10:25 PM, tim_brissy_13 said:

How wide is the planter? Maybe things like Chrysalidocarpus ambositrae, Syagrus schizophylla. Chrysalidocarpus onilahensis if you can find a solitary or sparsely clumping one. Potentially Chamaedorea radicalis or C plumosa if your summer sun/heat isn’t to extreme. 

It's about 3 to 3.5'. There's a 2 story block wall behind it. The palm could grow out away from the wall, but this will be in a commercial landscape, so some considerations will be how high maintenance it would be and how neat and tiddy, perhaps as well. I won't be able to give it all the attention I would with something from home. 

Here's a picture of where it will be. If it gets too big, it might look weird, so that's a consideration as well. 

 

 

Edited January 26, 2024 by BayAndroid