Small, super spiffy palms for coastal Huntington Beach CA

[DoomsDave]

Howdyall, 

I have a couple of palm friends in Huntington Beach, where it's cool enough that many of the much-beloved palms I can grow they have problems with. 

I've suggested genera like Geonoma from mountain regions which do well in places like San Francisco. 

One particular problem my friends have is that their lot is small, with electrical and phone wires across the back, which limits the size of things they can grow. Big stuff gets chopped, and Big Sibling Utilities are watching . . . . 

Anyway, thoughts appreciated including from those Up North, where heat gets a bit scarce.

[happypalms]

Oraniopsis appendiculata, I don’t think they will ever to tall in a hurry! 

[alzo]

How much sun?

[Jonathan]

Chamaedorea! So many to choose from...

[PlantMorePalms]

A few small ones that grow well for me in SF:

Basselinia eriostachys/glabrata 

Lanonia magalonii/calciphila/dasyantha

Licuala fordiana

Ravenea hildebrandtii

Pritchardia minor

Hedyscepe

All sorts of Chamaedoreas, benziei is particularly nice as a solitary plant imo.

 

 

[Foggy Paul]

In addition to some mentioned above I'm growing Ravenea glauca, Chrysalidocarpus ambrositae, onilahensis and baronii, Geonoma undata and Syagrus weddelliana. Howea belmoreana is nice and would take forever to get large. And maybe Chamaerops humilis. I'm also on a small lot with some overhead wires.

[Foggy Paul]

Also, Huntington is significantly warmer than here in summer so your friend could try some of those that failed for me, like Cyphophoenis alba and Prestoea montana.

[Darold Petty]

Chrysalidocarpus ambositrae and Hedyscepe

[tim_brissy_13]

I’d assume things like Brahea decumbens, B moorei, Sabal minor, S etonia, S miamiensis, Guihaia sp, Trachycarpus nanus, Linospadix sp,  Chambeyronia divaricata, dwarf Butia and Syagrus sp, Caryota monostachya, Chuniophoenix sp, Arenga nana, A gracilis, Rhapis sp, Pinanga gracilis, Pritchardia napaliensis and Ravenea cycadifolia would do well there and stay small in addition to the good suggestions above. 

[SCVpalmenthusiast]

One of my favorite palms kentias do really well in coastal California. 

[DoomsDave]

21 minutes ago, SCVpalmenthusiast said:

One of my favorite palms kentias do really well in coastal California. 

 

21 minutes ago, SCVpalmenthusiast said:

One of my favorite palms kentias do really well in coastal California. 

They have those.

[Tracy]

On 5/14/2026 at 11:26 AM, DoomsDave said:

Howdyall, 

I have a couple of palm friends in Huntington Beach, where it's cool enough that many of the much-beloved palms I can grow they have problems with. 

I've suggested genera like Geonoma from mountain regions which do well in places like San Francisco. 

One particular problem my friends have is that their lot is small, with electrical and phone wires across the back, which limits the size of things they can grow. Big stuff gets chopped, and Big Sibling Utilities are watching . . . . 

Anyway, thoughts appreciated including from those Up North, where heat gets a bit scarce.

Dave, I am a little suspicious as to which palms that you can grow that they can't grow in Huntington Beach.  You have been to my garden in Leucadia and seen what I am growing.  Huntington Beach is very similar if not a little warmer and windier than her due to both local topography and the large flart plane inland from Huntington Beach.  Look at Dale's plantings in Huntington Beach and some of the other members both there and in Seal Beach.

So there are two parts to your question, first the palms that grow well in the coastal zone of Southern California, and second the ones that are smaller for small lots with lots of power lines impacting the overhead heights.  On the coastal zone issues Chambeyronia of all variety will grow, several of the Burretiokentia species, Howea's of both variety, Rhopalostylis of all variations.  Chrysalidocarpus of many species will all grow here, ambositrae, affinis, basilongus, cabadae, pembanus, rufescens, prestonianus, robustus, lanceolatus, lutescens, saintelucei and the list goes on.  I could continue, but the focus isn't on what will grow in the coastal zone of Southern California, but what will grow that is appropriately sized.

So I'm now going to focus on the smaller palms that will grow well in Huntington Beach, here in Leucadia, down in OB, Cardiff by the Sea, or Venice where the next SoCal Palm Society will be.  Someone mentioned above the various Chamaedorea, which are good choices.  Ravenea glauca is a good choice, but Ravenea xerophilla is a bit of a challenge unless there is a good southerly exposure, perhaps with a good wall behind it for reflected heat.  Some of the smaller growing Pritchardia won't interfere with power/comm lines overhead.  Burretiokentia kogihensis is a slower growing species that won't be a problem overhead for a long time compared to hapala.  Cryosophilia stauracanthia is an uncommon small palm that will meet the criteria.  Several Coccothrinax do well here in California's coastal zone.  

On a slightly different note, there are a bunch of Cycads that give a tropical feel.  I don't think is a species in the Encephalartos genus that can't be grown here (Dale in Huntington Beach will verify that).  Ceratozamia, Cycas, Lepidiozamia, Macrozamia and several Zamia thrive her for a tropical, palmy feel.  Complementary plants like Anthuriums, Bromeliads and Orchids will all thrive.

I know I'm missing a bunch of good recommendations but this is just a first swing.

[DoomsDave]

6 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Chrysalidocarpus ambositrae and Hedyscepe

Yeah!

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, DoomsDave said:

Yeah!

Not under the powerlines though.   My guess is about 14 to 15 years before a 1 gallon will hit the powerlines.  My sun exposure Chrysalidocarpus ambositrae is about 10 or 11 years in the ground from a 1 gallon and it will hit that height in another 4 to 5 years, so give it head room.

Cocothrinax do well here but won't be a height problem.   Arenga engleri cap out on height so are well suited for positioning under those powerlines.  You get the added bonus of their fragrant flowers this time of year.

[Tracy]

Gaussia princeps and any of the Hyophorbe will grow in the coastal zone.  Give Hyophorbe lagenicaulis reflected heat from a wall for best results.  

Pseudophoenix sargentii is another Cthat will be slow enough to not cause problems for closer to 3 decades in a height constricted position.

If you have headroom for something bigger in a spot, Chrysalidocarpus decipiens does well along the coast from Ventura to Point Loma at a minimum. 

[Tracy]

Cyphophoenix elegans and nucele do well in the coastal zone as does Clinostigma savoryanum. 

Maybe my neighbor a couple of blocks away,  Billy or Dale in HB, can share their experience growing Bentinckia condapanna in the region impacted by the marine layer.  I think they will be positive comments.