Most Resilient Palms Against Salt Water And Other Considerations?

[BeachJoe]

Hello All,

 

So a total newbie here. I am just really starting to get into gardening and, with so many conflicting things you find online, figured I'd join this site to see about getting the real low down.

I live at a beach here in Florida, the Gulf side, on the intercoastal.  My yard is all shell with dirt underneath the weed mat and, unfortunately, a large part of it is along the street on a corner and, over the years, I have had so many cars for whatever reason drive onto the shell, and it always crushes them and leaves tire tracks that I have to go out and rake flat. Suffice it to say, I'm over it! This has got me wanting to plant some palms along this stretch of yard to stop this from happening. Plus, I think it would look great.

A few things I have been thinking about are the following:

--We have had flooding easily 4 times in the last 4 years with close-passing Tropical Storms and, of course, Hurricanes. And this part of my yard does get salt water into it for a few to several hours, depending on how long the storm is around. So, the first question is, wanting to know what palms are the most salt water resilient?

--In conjunction with salt water resiliency, I really don't want palms that grow tall. Looking to keep these short, maybe no more than 5 to 6 feet. If possible, even a little shorter would be cool. So what types of palms tend to stay shorter? Is that just a matter of how I trim them every year?

--When I do get them planted, is there anything I should do outside regular watering at first to help them get really established?

 

Thanks for any and all information, suggestions and, of course, feel free to post any links to "How To's", especially with the wanting to keep them from growing tall. 

[happypalms]

Cocus nucifera  if they grow in your area apparently they like the salt water. Alogoptrea arenaria apply named seashore palm. Howea fosteriana quite salt tolerant leaves. Washingtonia filifera, Thrinax radiata, acoelorrhaphe wrightii, Dictyosperma album! 

[Xenon]

19 hours ago, BeachJoe said:

Hello All,

I live at a beach here in Florida, the Gulf side, on the intercoastal.

Hi, welcome to palmtalk! Could you be more specific with your location? There is a huuuuuge difference in what can be grown in the Panhandle vs Tampa Bay or Ft. Myers

[sonoranfans]

Only ones I can think of are alogoptera arenia to 6'

https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Allagoptera_arenaria

And serenia repens which will eventually get wide and perhaps to 10; in 20 years.

my sisters house on anna maria island has seen 2-4' of surge 2x the last 3-4 years.  The house was trashed but Her serenoa are doing fine.

[Bkue]

I can say that Bismarck handled well. Submerged for hours under 8+feet. Thought it was a goner given the tilt and being young. Nearly 90% covered. Alive and well. The CDP thought mature showed no signs of issues. 3 Washingtonians were unaffected although recently pulled to make room for a modification plus not being able to trim 60+ft palms. 

[sonoranfans]

7 hours ago, Bkue said:

I can say that Bismarck handled well. Submerged for hours under 8+feet. Thought it was a goner given the tilt and being young. Nearly 90% covered. Alive and well. The CDP thought mature showed no signs of issues. 3 Washingtonians were unaffected although recently pulled to make room for a modification plus not being able to trim 60+ft palms. 

Good news but salt water is a much tougher challenge, to the OP, Biz probably wont make it in salt water.

[Bkue]

On 7/3/2025 at 10:52 AM, sonoranfans said:

Good news but salt water is a much tougher challenge, to the OP, Biz probably wont make it in salt water.

Well, it was salt water. Gulf front in Hudson fl. As of 5hrs ago palm still looks great surprisingly. The 8ft I mentioned was salt storm surge and all 8ft made it though 2 storm doors blown off the track , 2 windward windows, and out 2 garage doors. Fortunately the living area is on the 2nd and 3rd floor but lost a ton of shit on the 1st. Refridge, freezer, tools, tons of tackle, golf cart, fence, pool equipment, dock, all the normal stuff one would keep in a garage. Fortunately for us, the Bismarck is still holding strong and growing actively.