Spacing philosophy

[rizla023]

I’m trying to fit my Burretiokentia hapala or dypsis baronii in between my veitchia arecina and c. Houailou. I’ve heard several philosophies about spacing - wanting to give just enough space for the crown shaft or trunk, as close as doubles/triples, but I’ve also heard others wanting to give enough room for the total spreading height, usually 8-10 feet depending on the palm. I think I’m gonna go for it, but I’m curious if others have this combination and have experience with spacing for these options. There’s about 2.5 feet in between the houailou and arecina, adding the third would create a triangle. Pics included. 

SoCal, Santa Ana, CA

[James B]

Really it’s up to you. Spacing comes down to your personal aesthetic taste. Some like the jungle look myself included.

[James B]

Unless it’s a single Baronii that you going to pull out sucksers from I’d steer you from planting that palm without spacing for what will become several palms by itself one day and will take up some real estate.

[rizla023]

@James B thanks. I’m thinking of doing the hapala since I think id like the baronii as a suckering. I am definitely on the conservative side, unlike a lot of the amazing enthusiasts in this forum 😆. I get so inspired by the jungle look, but often afraid of doing it with palms. 

[NorCalWill]

Thanks for bringing up this topic. I think of this often. It's always a challenge to fit all of the palms you want to grow into a space where they can be seen. I do enjoy the "jungle" effect that some people do, but for me, I prefer less palms that are well spaced. I like to see the full canopy of every palm. Any plant that I plant in the ground, I plant as if it's already at its mature size. I also consider how tall each palm will eventually grow and visualize that when I'm planning things out. Good luck with your palm garden.

[rizla023]

3 minutes ago, NorCalWill said:

Thanks for bringing up this topic. I think of this often. It's always a challenge to fit all of the palms you want to grow into a space where they can be seen. I do enjoy the "jungle" effect that some people do, but for me, I prefer less palms that are well spaced. I like to see the full canopy of every palm. Any plant that I plant in the ground, I plant as if it's already at its mature size. I also consider how tall each palm will eventually grow and visualize that when I'm planning things out. Good luck with your palm garden.

Yes, I really struggle with that too. I try to space things out so you can see the full effect but I also understand the jungle look provides a similar “wow” factor. 

Thank you for sharing!

[NorCalWill]

1 minute ago, rizla023 said:

Yes, I really struggle with that too. I try to space things out so you can see the full effect but I also understand the jungle look provides a similar “wow” factor. 

Thank you for sharing!

That's another interesting point. I have seen jungle plantings where I thought how much better it would be if some of the palms weren't so close together, especially when a variety of different palm genus are tightly planted. But I've also seen some jungle plantings that did take my breath away, particularly tight groupings of the same genus.

[tim_brissy_13]

1 hour ago, NorCalWill said:

That's another interesting point. I have seen jungle plantings where I thought how much better it would be if some of the palms weren't so close together, especially when a variety of different palm genus are tightly planted. But I've also seen some jungle plantings that did take my breath away, particularly tight groupings of the same genus.

Purely aesthetically, I think similarly to this. Most palms are best appreciated when you able to see them separate to other species either solitary or in a group planting. 
 

With the above being said, there are 3 other factors which tend to overrule this for me when planting my own garden:

1. I’m a complete palm addict and I need to maximise my collection even at the cost of the best overall look of the garden. 
 

2. In climates such as mine where some species can get damaged from frost, sun, heat or wind (or all), planting close together creates a shared microclimate and protection from the elements. I have many species in my garden looking good that would otherwise struggle to grow at all if out in the open. 
 

3. Palms with different mature heights, speed of growth and/or different appearances (e.g. frond colour, pinnate vs palmate etc) can often look good close together. I find multiple layers with different colours and textures visually appealing. 

[rizla023]

Thanks @tim_brissy_13 for your thoughtful response. I like how you phrased the palm addict sacrifices we all make 😆. I also have been thinking about the variety of textures this grouping would have. All are pinnate, but veitchia will be faster than the other two and between the three, the colors will be contrasting enough to provide definition. I think I’ll go with the hapala for this trio! Thanks again. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I’m a “wreckless abandon” kind of guy! My garden is pretty tight . I planted my jungle by what I thought the needs of the palm were. Now I have to carefully figure out where to put something. I do have minor regrets but eventually it all works out , palms get taller , provide shade for others , and soon a jungle rises from the ground. Watch out for the monkeys!! Harry

[miamicuse]

Is planting a double, triple, or even quadruple of the same palm goes towards or against a "jungle look"?

[quaman58]

Great suggestions here already. But one caveat I was discussing with my neighbor just yesterday was the uncertainty of any given palm actually growing to adulthood. I have planted palms in what I consider to be the "perfect" spot, only to have them languish for years before finally carking. On the other hand, there are those palms that I've planted into what seemed to be terrible locations, only to have them thrive spectacularly. My only personal rule is not to ignore the architecture of the house from the curb. (i.e. not bury it). Outside of that, I don't try to overthink it much anymore. If something doesn't "fit" once it's larger, you can always "edit"!

[Harry’s Palms]

Right after we bought our new house my daughter would follow me around with her beach pail and “help” me plant the palms I brought from my old house. One day she looked up at me and asked “daddy why are we trying to hide our house?” Harry

[Billeb]

6 hours ago, quaman58 said:

……My only personal rule is not to ignore the architecture of the house from the curb. (i.e. not bury it). Outside of that, I don't try to overthink it much anymore. If something doesn't "fit" once it's larger, you can always "edit"!

This is what my theory is too. If things get far too cluttered for my taste when they start to get size….decisions will be made. 
 

I knowingly plant things in what many consider close but my “master plan” is they will separate when mature. I for one like the full/jungle look but I think it’s only cuz my property does not allow separation. It’s hard to beat a perfectly grown palm with nothing around it so you can look at the entire and unobstructed shape. You need a large property tho, difficult in CA. 
 

-dale 

[surfermatt]

I’m just getting started but for me my goal is lots of spacing almost no overlap very clean only the best palms for my climate in the front (so far) and the back will look much more jungle lots of overlap and dense to create long term privacy and some shade.