Palm trees are one of the most iconic and must-have elements in a tropical garden. With their stylish fronds, swaying gently in the breeze, and their sleek personalities. These types of palm trees are a symbol of luxury, they can effortlessly transform your landscape tremendously.
Whether you are a seasoned plant parent or a novice green thumb, the beauty of palm trees in your garden is undeniable. Their flexibility, elegance, and aesthetic appeal, make them ideal choices to bring an oasis of serenity, and a feel of the tropics to your garden.
Here is the list of 27 popular types of palm trees to grow to add tropical energy and look in your garden.
- Traveler's Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis)
- Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis)
- Spindle Palm (Hyophorbe verschaffeltii)
- Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcate)
- Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
- Bottle Palm (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis)
- Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis)
- Sago Palm Tree (Cycas revoluta)
- Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta)
- Huacrapona Palm Tree (Jubaea chilensis)
- King Palm Tree (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)
- Montgomery Palm (Veitchia arecina)
- Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)
- Cuban Royal Palm (Roystonea regia)
- Silver Date Palm (Phoenix sylvestris)
- Weeping Cabbage Palm (Livistona decipiens)
- Paurotis Palm (Acoelorrhaphe wrightii)
- African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)
- Lipstick Palm (Cyrtostachys renda)
- Acai Palm (Euterpe oleracea)
- Bailey's Corpenicia Palm (Copernicia baileyana)
- Carpentaria Palm (Carpentaria acuminata)
- Mountain Coconut Palm (Aiphanes horrida)
- Macaw palm (Acrocomia crispa)
- Guadalupe Palm (Brahea edulis)
- Joey Palm (Johannesteijsmannia altifrons)
- Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis)
1. Traveler's Palm
Botanical Name: Ravenala madagascariensis
The Traveler's Palm is popular for its unique fan-shaped foliage that resembles a giant hand fan. It adds a touch of elegance to tropical gardens, with its lush foliage and greenery touch.
Despite its name, Ravenala Madagascariensis is not a true palm but a member of the bird-of-paradise family.
2. Canary Island Date Palm
Botanical Name: Phoenix canariensis
This majestic palm features a thick trunk with feathery, arching fronds, making it a striking palm variety for any tropical garden.
The fruit of the Canary Island Date Palm, called dates is edible but not as sweet well-loved, or popular compared to dates from other palm species.
3. Spindle Palm
Botanical Name: Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
The Spindle Palm is famous for its sleek, solitary trunk and elegant crown of arching fronds, adding a modern and luxurious touch to your tropical garden and outdoor spaces in general.
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Hyophorbe verschaffeltii gets its Spindle palm name from its spindle-shaped trunk.
4. Foxtail Palm
Botanical Name: Wodyetia bifurcata
The Foxtail Palm is celebrated for its bushy crown of feathery foliage, resembling a fox's tail, and is a favorite choice for landscaping. Incorporating Foxtail Palm in your tropical garden will add a desirable aesthetic and lushiness.
Wodyetia bifurcata palm is a native of Northern Australia and it was discovered in the late 1970s.
5. Queen Palm
Botanical Name: Syagrus romanzoffiana
With its graceful, arching fronds and smooth, lean trunk, the Queen Palm is a classic choice for creating a tropical ambiance and look in your garden.
Queen Palm is native to South America and it has an ornamental value.
6. Bottle Palm
Botanical Name: Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
The Bottle Palm is quickly recognizable by its swollen, bottle-shaped trunk and a tuft of feathery fronds at the top, making it a unique yet attractive aesthetic addition to your tropical garden.
Bottle palm is native to Round Island, a small islet near Mauritius, making it a rare and exotic palm.
7. Bismarck Palm
Botanical Name: Bismarckia nobilis
The Bismarck Palm is an alluring showstopper with its silver-blue, fan-shaped fronds, and a strong trunk, imparting a touch of tropical grandeur.
A unique fact about the Bismarck palm is that it was named after the first Chancellor of the German Empire, Otto von Bismarck.
8. Sago Palm Tree
Botanical Name: Cycas revoluta
Though not a true palm tree, the Sago palm tree is normally referred to as a palm tree due to its palm-like appearance and look. Native to Japan, Sago is a cycad, well-known for its feathery dark green pinnate foliage.
It is a popular ornamental and houseplant and the oldest living plant species on earth, dating back to the dinosaurs' era.
9. Mexican Fan Palm
Botanical Name: Washingtonia robusta
Mexican Fan Plam is Known for its impressive height and slender trunk, creating a dramatic skyline in tropical landscapes.
Interestingly, It's one of the tallest palm species and can reach heights of up to 100 ft(30m).
10. Huacrapona Palm Tree
Botanical Name: Jubaea chilensis
The Huacrapona Palm tree referred to as a Chilean palm tree is a slow-growing palm tree native to Chile. It has a massive trunk and it is known for its fattest trunk and it is famous for its trunk, which resembles a wine glass.
An interesting fact about the Jubaea chilensis is that its sap can be used to make a beverage called chicha and for this reason, the palm tree is why it is referred to as the wine palm sometimes.
11. King Palm Tree
Botanical Name: Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Native to Australia, the King Palm tree is a tall, slender palm, with a smooth trunk and green crown shaft on top of it. This palm tree is a popular ornamental tree in both tropical and subtropical landscapes.
The fruits of the King palm tree turn red when fully ripe and it's a great food source for birds and diverse wildlife.
12. Montgomery Palm
Botanical Name: Veitchia arecina
Montgomery Palm is well-known for its compact size and discerning arching fronds, making it a charming addition to both indoor and outdoor tropical gardens.
A unique trait of Veitchia arecina is that It's native to Vanuatu and is often used as a houseplant due to its small size.
13. Bangalow Palm
Botanical Name: Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
The Bangalow Palm is a slender, elegant palm with feather-like fronds, often used to create a lush, tropical canopy, capable of transforming your garden with a tropical feel and touch of greenery.
Bungalow Palm is originally from Australia and is often found along riverbanks and in rainforests.
14. Cuban Royal Palm
Botanical Name: Roystonea regia
The Cuban Royal Palm is a majestic palm with a tall trunk and a crown of lush, pinnate foliage, making it a symbol of tropical luxury, capable of elevating the look and character of your tropical garden.
The Cuban Royal Palm is the national tree of Cuba and is often seen in grand avenues and parks.
15. Silver Date Palm
Botanical Name: Phoenix sylvestris
Characterized by its silvery-blue foliage and lean trunk, the Silver Date Palm adds a touch of elegance and color contrast to any tropical landscape.
It's native to South Asia and is known for its sweet and popular edible dates.
16. Weeping Cabbage Palm
Botanical Name: Livistona decipiens
The Weeping Cabbage Palm gets its name from its drooping fronds, which gives it a unique and elegant appearance.
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A unique fact about the Weeping Cabbage palm is that; It's native to eastern Australia and is adapted to a variety of climates.
17. Paurotis Palm
Botanical Name: Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
The Paurotis Palm is a small to medium-sized palm with fan-shaped foliage, used in group plantings to create a lush, elegant tropical effect.
Originally from Florida and the Caribbean and is salt-tolerant, making it suitable for coastal landscapes.
18. African Oil Palm
Botanical Name: Elaeis guineensis
The African Oil Palm is a great economic crop known for its long, feathery fronds and the production of palm oil.
A unique fact about the African oil palm is that it's one of the most important oil crops globally, used in various food and non-food products.
19. Lipstick Palm
Botanical Name: Cyrtostachys renda
The Lipstick Palm is well-known for its shiny red or pink crownshaft, contrasting elegantly with its feathery green fronds.
Native to Southeast Asia; Lipstick palm is a rare and sought-after ornamental palm.
20. Acai Palm
Botanical Name: Euterpe oleracea
The Acai Palm is known for its slender, multi-stemmed growing habit and its small, dark purple fruits, which are edible.
Acai berries are harvested for their antioxidant-rich pulp, often used in smoothies and other health foods.
21. Bailey's Copernicia Palm
Botanical Name: Copernicia baileyana
Bailey’s Copernicia palm features a tall, lean trunk with fan-shaped fronds, adding a touch of tropical elegance to landscapes and outdoor spaces.
Copernicia baileyana is a native of Cuba and is known for its wax-producing leaves used in making carnauba wax.
22. Carpentaria Palm
Botanical Name: Carpentaria acuminata
The Carpentaria Palm is a graceful palm with curling fronds and a slender trunk, inspiring a tropical feel to gardens.
An interesting fact about the Carpentaria palm is that It's native to Northern Australia and is considered a symbol of the region.
23. Mountain Coconut Palm
Botanical Name: Aiphanes horrida
The Mountain Coconut Palm is a spiky palm known for its striking appearance, unique texture, and thorny feel to it.
Mountain Coconut palm originated from Central and South America and is often used as an ornamental palm.
24. Macaw Palm
Botanical Name: Acrocomia crispa
The Macaw Palm features a unique trunk and feather-like fronds, adding a touch of exotic beauty and luxury to your tropical landscapes.
Being a native of South America, Macaw palm was named after the macaw parrots, that feed on its fruits.
25. Guadalupe Palm
Botanical Name: Brahea edulis
The Guadalupe Palm is a small to medium-sized palm with blue-green fronds, creating a calming and elegant atmosphere in your tropical landscape.
Guadalupe palm is sometimes referred to as the Guadalupe Fan Palm.
26. Joey Palm
Botanical Name: Johannesteijsmannia altifrons
The Joey Palm is characterized by its lush, finely divided fronds, like a lush fern, and is often grown for its ornamental appeal and tropical effect and beauty.
It's native to Southeast Asia and is a favorite choice for indoor palm enthusiasts.
27. Chinese Fan Palm
Botanical Name: (Livistona chinensis)
Also known as the Fountain Palm tree, the Chinese Fan Palm is native to Japan, Taiwan, and China. With its distinctive single trunk, large fronds, and bluish/green hue, Livistona chinensis is a great addition to your tropical garden.
Interestingly, the Chinese Fan Palm is one of the cold-tolerant palm trees and can withstand cooler temperatures compared to other palms. Due to this adaptation, it is popular for both landscaping and ornamental use.
A Wide Range of Elegant Palms
All these palm trees offer a wide range of elegance and tropical excellence to choose from for a tropical yet inviting ambiance in your landscape. From the delicate broadleaf lady palm to the fruity Acai Palm, there is a palm for every landscaping or gardening style aiming to adopt a tropical approach. These above 27 types offer you big and small palm trees to choose from. Depending on what your landscaping needs are, you cannot miss a befitting palm tree.
Header Image by @Plants Insider.
