What is a good Palm Tree for Landscaping?

Question

I am looking to buy some palm trees for my yard (I live in Louisiana) I want something not too small but not to big either. I don't want to have to pay someone thousands of dollars in a few years to have it removed because it got out of hand. Any suggestions.

Answer 1

There are many great species of palm tree that don't grow tall and spread so much.

I'd recommend the Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

12 feet tall.

Umbrella Palm Hedyscepe canterburyana  Doesn't produce offshoots and stays solitary grows 15 ft tall.

Choose a species that doen't produce suckers or large fruit.

Not Coconut Palm (ouch!) and youll be alright.

Answer 2

Sable palms are cheap and fairly forgiving.

Queen palms are also in expensive.

The other palms like Bismark and Palmetto are extremely expensive.

In a more temperate climate your best bet are Sables, Queen, and Chinese Fan palms.

Answer 3

I find palmettos to be very attractive. They don't grow too big.  Look around your neighborhood, ask your neighbors about their palms if you like their specimens.  It's a great conversation starter anyway.

Answer 4

sabals dont grow to big, but are very common so you might want something different.

how about a bismark palm. the blue leaves are really nice, but it palm is only for southern lousianna.

doesnt get too tall, but does get wide.

here are some photos

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showima...

eventually it will get tall so you may want another palm. windmill palms arent tall  palms and have been known forits cold hadiness, and its ability to fit small areas.

will grow to 20 feet, but not for about 30 years. cold tollerant to 5 degrees and can survive 0 so this palm will have no cold damage if winters are above 7 degrees

photo of windmill palm

http://www.yardmastersinc.com/palm_image...

if this is too large you can get a sabal bimingham. this is a dwarf of the common sabal minor growing wide, but not tall. cold tollerant too and can survive 10 with little or no damage and 5 with minor damage. can survive to -5.

photo of sabal birmingham

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showima...