A Hint of the Tropics

Potted palms for outdoor spaces give an exotic, tropical element to your landscape. With chunky, rough trunks and beautiful splays of green fronds, palms are akin to fireworks, in plant form. While some parts of the globe can enjoy large palms in the ground, many of us have to consider container planting in order to enjoy them. To grow a palm in a container, choose slow-growing specimens.

Three Winners

Dwarf Palmettos are my personal favourite potted palms for outdoor spaces. They are hardy in zones 8-10 (USDA) and top-out at about 5 feet tall. Most of the trunk of this palm grows underground, giving the greenery a full and clumping appearance. It is a great choice in both mass plantings and containers.

I’m also crushing on Pygmy Date Palms and have a few on my patio this season. While slow-growing, they can grow up to 12 feet outdoors and need a space 3-5 feet wide.  Zones 9-11 are where these beauties thrive and they tolerate full to partial sunlight. Bring them inside in the winter and they’ll be just fine.

And there’s the Majestic Majesty Palm, which hails from Madagascar. These are 10-12 feet tall outdoors but also can thrive inside. A very erect and showy plant that loves a humid environment, it’s a great choice near swimming pools or hot tubs. They also are very versatile in that they can tolerate some shade.

Container Tips

Potted palms for outdoor spaces do extremely well in containers. For the very best results, follow these tips:

First, choose a snug-fitting but not binding pot. Palms like their roots to be a bit confined. Select a container that’s just a bit larger than it’s nursery container.

Second, select well-draining soil filled with organic matter. Make sure the crown of the plant is just above the soil-level, just like you’d plant a rose bush. I like Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix.

Third, always trim off any dry/dying fronds (generally they turn yellowish-brown) and water regularly when the top two inches of the soil are dry.

Most palms like hot, warm sun so situate them according to their care instructions for best results. Enjoy your own tropical paradise when you plant container palms.