Plants in family arecaceae
Chamaedorea cataractarum
Chamaedorea cataractarum, also known as the cat palm, is an elegant, tropical palm with long, lush green fronds. It grows to about 3-6 feet tall indoors and thrives in bright indirect sunlight. This low-maintenance plant is non-toxic to humans and pets, making it a safe and attractive choice for indoor spaces.
Butia odorata
Butia odorata, a slow-growing palm native to southern Brazil and Uruguay, is known for its thick trunk and arching feather-like leaves. It can reach up to 10 feet in height and produces highly aromatic fruit. This palm is one of the hardiest of its kind, tolerating temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit. It thrives in sandy and rocky soils and is often found in small clusters in its native habitat. The fruit is sweet and sour, with a taste reminiscent of pineapple and apricot. It is a popular ornamental plant in Mediterranean Europe and the southern USA.
Dypsis lutescens
Dypsis lutescens, also known as the Areca Palm, is a slow-growing plant that thrives in bright, indirect light. Its clustered palms resemble bamboo, and it is native to Madagascar and South India. This plant is well-suited for subtropical climates and adds a tropical feel to indoor spaces.
Phoenix theophrasti
Phoenix theophrasti, native to Crete and the eastern Mediterranean, is one of the hardiest feather palms. It features grey-green leaves and can grow up to 15 meters tall. This palm is notable for its restricted distribution and historical significance, being named after Theophrastus, the ancient Greek 'father of botany'.
Phoenix canariensis
Phoenix canariensis, commonly known as the Canary Island date palm, is a unique and colorful succulent native to the Canary Islands, Morocco, and East Africa. It features foliage similar to that of succulents and is well-suited for warm, dry climates. This plant is often used in landscaping for its striking appearance and adaptability to various soil conditions.
Ceroxylon parvifrons
Ceroxylon parvifrons is a palm native to the high-altitude regions of the Andes Mountains. It features a slender trunk and a crown of fan-shaped leaves with a protective wax coating. This ornamental palm is important for local ecosystems and is found in countries like Colombia and Peru.
Chamaerops humilis var. argentea
Chamaerops humilis var. argentea is a deer-resistant European fan palm native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It features powder-blue foliage with silver undersides and thrives in hot, sunny sites with good drainage.
Sabal uresana
Sabal uresana is a species of palm tree native to the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico. This slow-growing palm can eventually reach 30 feet tall and features costapalmate silvery-green leaves with a dark brown trunk. Sabal uresana is threatened by habitat loss but is known for its resilience, being drought-tolerant and able to withstand various environmental conditions. This palm is a great option for those looking to add a touch of tropical beauty to their garden. Its unique appearance and adaptability make it a popular choice for gardeners.
Chamaerops humilis
Chamaerops humilis is a hardy palm that withstands temperatures as low as 0°F. It is deer-resistant and grows larger in southern climates, making it a resilient choice for various landscapes.
Howea forsteriana
Howea forsteriana, commonly known as the sentry or paradise palm, is a low-maintenance houseplant that thrives in medium to low light conditions. It can grow between 3 to 12 feet indoors and is non-toxic to humans and pets, making it a safe choice for households. This palm prefers temperatures between 65-75°F and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 9-11, adding a tropical touch to indoor spaces.
Cocos nucifera
Cocos nucifera, or the coconut palm, is an iconic tropical plant with tall, slender trunks and lush green fronds. Known for producing edible coconuts, it can grow up to 100 feet tall and requires full sun and warm temperatures to flourish.
Trithrinax campestris
Trithrinax campestris is a compact palm native to the arid regions of Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. It features short green to grayish foliage and a trunk hidden by dry leaf bases. The plant is drought and cold-resistant, making it suitable for ornamental use in dry climates.
Caryota mitis
Caryota mitis, also known as the fishtail palm, is a low-maintenance plant with unusual leaves shaped like a jagged fish's tail. It can reach a height of 50 inches at maturity and thrives in full sun to partial shade. This plant is toxic to humans and pets if ingested and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Brahea decumbens
Brahea decumbens is a slow-growing palm endemic to the Sierra Madre Orientale Mountains in northeastern Mexico. Its leaves turn silvery grey with age, and it develops creeping trunks, making it a unique addition to gardens in zones 8b/9a.
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Rhapidophyllum hystrix, native to the southeastern United States, is a hardy palm that can withstand temperatures as low as -9°F, potentially down to -20°F when established. This short-trunked, clump-forming palm grows up to 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide, featuring cut-leaf green foliage and sharp needles at the base.
Serenoa repens
Serenoa repens, commonly known as saw palmetto, is a native plant of the southeastern United States. It is the only species in its genus and is recognized by its dense clumps and toothed leaf petioles. This plant is marginally hardy in zone 7 and thrives in both sun and shade.
Trachycarpus oreophilus
Trachycarpus oreophilus, known as the Thai mountain fan palm, is found on high limestone cliffs in Northern Thailand. It grows up to 30 feet tall with a crown of stiff green leaves and thrives at elevations around 6,000 feet. This palm is notable for its distinct populations in Thailand and India.
Sabal minor
Sabal minor, commonly known as the dwarf palmetto, is a hardy palm native to the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico. It can withstand temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit and features blue-green leaves and summer flower spikes with blue berries. This palm is well-suited to a variety of habitats, including swamps and floodplains.
Trachycarpus fortunei
Trachycarpus fortunei, commonly known as the windmill palm, is a cold-tolerant palm tree with lush, green fronds and oblong leaves. It features yellow, bushy flowers and is resistant to pests and diseases. This slow-growing palm can reach a mature height of 10-40 feet and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Its ability to withstand temperatures as low as 5°F makes it a hardy choice for gardens in USDA zones 7-11.
Sabal palmetto
Sabal palmetto is a highly resilient palm native to the Southeast United States, Yucatán Peninsula, and the Caribbean. Known for its extreme salt tolerance and ability to withstand hurricanes, it grows up to 80 feet tall. This palm is the official state tree of Florida and South Carolina and is valued for its drought and flood resistance. Its costapalmate fan leaves and black drupe fruit add to its ornamental appeal in subtropical landscapes.
Sabal etonia
Sabal etonia is a dwarf palm endemic to the dry, sandy soils of north-central Florida, featuring a subterranean trunk and costapalmate leaves. This fan palm is notable for its compact crown and creamy white flowers that extend beyond the leaves. It produces black, fleshy fruits and is one of the rarest sabal palms, with a limited distribution in Florida. The plant is adapted to harsh conditions and is an important component of sand pine scrub communities.
Chamaedorea elegans
Chamaedorea elegans, also known as the Parlor Palm, is a small palm tree native to Southern Mexico and Guatemala. It thrives in low light conditions and is an excellent air purifier. This hardy, low-maintenance plant can grow up to 5-6 feet tall outdoors and 4 feet indoors.
Ravenea rivularis
Ravenea rivularis, commonly known as the Majesty Palm, is a popular indoor plant native to Madagascar. It features dark green fronds that can grow up to 2-3 feet long indoors, adding a tropical feel to any space. This palm is known for its air-purifying qualities, making it a great choice for improving indoor air quality. It prefers bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil, thriving in humid environments. While it can grow up to 10-12 feet indoors, it can reach towering heights of up to 98 feet in the wild. The Majesty Palm requires fast-draining soil and specialty fertilizer for optimal growth.
Rhapis excelsa
Rhapis excelsa, also known as the Lady Palm, is a low-maintenance indoor plant with dense clumps of slender green stems and fan-shaped fronds. It can grow up to 6 feet tall indoors and tolerates low to moderate light. This plant is an effective air purifier and is non-toxic to humans and pets.
Washingtonia robusta
Washingtonia robusta, native to northwestern Mexico, is a tall palm that can reach up to 98 feet. It features long petioles with sharp thorns and a fan of leaflets. The tree produces small, pale orange-pink flowers and blue-black fruit. It is less cold-hardy than its relative, Washingtonia filifera, and is suitable for experimental gardeners.
Cyrtostachys renda
This plant features bright red fronds and a slender, smooth trunk that can grow up to 50 feet in ideal conditions. It thrives in full sunlight at maturity but benefits from some shade while young. The ideal temperature range for this plant is 75-85°F, and it is non-toxic to humans and pets. It is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 10 and above.
Sabal mexicana
Sabal mexicana is a robust trunk-forming palm native to southern North America, known for its fan-shaped fronds and drought tolerance. It can grow up to 60 feet tall and is hardy down to 8°F, with slight foliage burn. The palm produces small bisexual flowers and black drupes, which are edible along with the palm hearts. Its wood is used for construction, and leaves are used for thatching and making straw hats.
Geonoma epetiolata
Geonoma epetiolata is an extremely rare plant in cultivation, known for its difficulty to germinate and hard-to-find seeds. This rarity makes it a prized specimen for collectors of tropical plants.
Licuala mattanensis 'Mapu'
Licuala mattanensis 'Mapu' is a compact tropical plant native to the rainforests of Borneo. It features large, glossy green, fan-shaped leaves that are deeply split into wedge-shaped segments. This slow-growing and rare plant is ideal for indoor cultivation, preferring humid, shaded environments and well-drained soils.