If you want to make your yard feel like a tropical paradise, planting palm trees is a great way to do it. These tall, stately plants have long, frond-like leaves that wave in the breeze, adding movement and interest to your garden. Even though your space may be shady, you can still make it look nicer by adding some tropical shade-tolerant plants!
Some of the best plants to put under a palm tree include tropical hibiscus, asparagus fern, Asiatic jasmine, bromeliads, golden shrimp, birds of paradise, crotons, blue ginger, and moth orchids. All these plants prosper in tropical climates and appreciate the cool shade your palm tree provides.
We’ll go over the best plants to plant under your palm tree. We will also talk about some of the things your tropical plants will need to stay healthy.
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Can You Grow Plants Under Your Palm Tree?
The space under a palm tree may not be suitable for plant growth, depending on the species of palm tree. Rest assured, there are plenty of tropical plants that enjoy being in the shade!
So, the answer is yes! You can grow plants under your palm tree.
Even so, the plants under your palm tree will face a few challenges that will need to be addressed:
- Shade: First and foremost, your plant will need to tolerate some shade to survive under your palm tree. Some palms cast more shade than others, so be sure to choose a plant that is at least somewhat shade tolerant.
- Nutrients: Palm trees require nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium more than any other nutrients, and they will steal these from their leaves if the quantity is scarce in the soil. Planting something beneath your palm tree means there will be even fewer nutrients available.
If you are having a problem where your palms are not getting enough nutrients, you should use a palm fertilizer. This will ensure that your palms get the nutrients they need even though they are sharing the soil with another plant. This fertilizer was designed to give palm trees the specific nutrients they need in order to thrive.
- Water: According to the University Of California , palms should be watered when the soil two inches below the surface is dry. When you add a plant under your palm tree, that water is going to disappear faster than normal, meaning you’ll have to water the area more frequently.
- Climate: Before choosing a plant to place beneath your palm tree, take into consideration the hardiness zone in which the plant can survive. It needs to be adapted to tropical conditions just like your palm tree .
Even though there are some difficulties, you have a lot of options for plants to put under your palm tree. The space beneath your palm does not need to be empty or boring. Try adding some creeping vines or brilliant bromeliads to add some extra interest to your garden.
How To Grow Plants Under Your Palm Tree
Each of the plants on our list will help fight the problems we mentioned before. The plants will be able to survive in shady areas, won’t need many nutrients or much water, and will do well in warm climates.
In order to make your plants happy and see the full blooms of flowers, while also keeping your palm trees a lush green, you should take care when planting under your palm tree by following some of the guidelines below.
1. Choose the right location for your plants
This section may seem silly – aren’t we planting our plants under our palm trees? There are a few areas you should avoid if you want your palm tree to stay healthy.
Be careful not to dig too close to palm tree roots when planting.
Palm trees do not have very deep roots. Instead of spreading out vertically, they spread out horizontally in a fibrous manner.
If you are digging and hit something hard, it is likely that you have hit the roots of a palm tree. If you’re planting a palm tree, make sure the roots have enough room to spread out by digging a little to the left or right.
You should also think about which areas of your home get sunlight when you are deciding where to put your plants. The areas beneath your palm tree that receive morning or evening sun would be the ideal location for planting.
Depending on the plant you choose, it may need to be placed in an area that gets a lot of sun, or possibly in an area that gets very little sun. The north side of your palm tree will usually get less sun exposure than the south side.
The third and final rule is that there are some plants that don’t need to be dug up at all.
Uh, what?
Some of the plants on our list will attach themselves to the palm tree trunk rather than being planted in the soil.
Attach the plants to something that will hold them up and provide them with the necessary sunlight requirements.
If you want to transplant your palm tree to a different location, you will need to take special care to ensure that it is moved safely. To transplant a palm tree, first read our guide!
2. Know your palm tree
The University of Florida reports that there are more than 2,600 species of palm trees and shrubs. That’s a lot of variety!
Before planting anything under your palm tree, take the time to research what type of palm tree you have and what its specific requirements are.
Choose plants that will thrive in the same environment as your palm tree. planting something that requires constant moisture with a palm tree that requires good drainage and cannot remain wet. For example, This is an example of planting something that requires constant moisture with a palm tree that requires good drainage and cannot remain wet.
We’ll cover some of the planting specifics below to ensure that you’re planting something under your palm tree that will thrive, adding color and variety to your tropical garden!
When choosing a ping pong paddle, you should also consider the size of your palm. Make sure the size of the flower matches the size of the palm for plants on our list that can grow over five feet tall.
Some of the best palm trees for larger flowers include:
- Areca Palm
- Kentia Palm
- Windmill Palm
- Fan Palm (and its varieties)
- Canary Island Date Palm
- Queen Palm
- Foxtail Palm
- Sylvester Palm
If you decide to go with one of the shorter flowers on our list, you can fit them under some of the smaller palm varieties such as:
- Pando Palm
- Pygmy Date Palm
- Cat Palm
- Fishtail Palm
- Lady Palm
Palms trees can have different layouts even though they may have a beachy feel. Observe the shape of the leaves on your palm tree and how they create shadows on the ground. You’ll want to find the sunniest spot for some of the flowers on our list, and the shadiest for others.
3. Accentuate with a row of palm trees
For a more aesthetically pleasing lawn, arrange your palm trees in a row that accentuates your favorite landscape features.
If you want to impress your friends and family with a new swimming pool or stress a dramatic outdoor stairway, you can do so by installing a pool in your backyard or adding a staircase to your front porch. Create a line of tall, single-trunk palm trees, with leaves crowning the top of the trunk.
You have a few options when it comes to single-trunked palm trees to highlight your pool, stairs, or driveway:
- Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis)
- Alexander palms (Archontophoenix alexandrae)
- Foxtail palms (Wodyetia bifurcata)
A piece of advice: it is best to avoid using hands that may take away attention from the main focus. Densely leaved areca palms with numerous stems may be visually distracting.
4. Shade the pool
You don’t want to be sweating when you get out of the pool. If you want to make the pool area more bearable, add some palm trees for shade. The pool will feel refreshing, and the patio won’t be too hot to walk on.
Pindo palms and pygmy date palms can provide excellent shade. Arrange your lounge chairs under the shady palm trees, mix up a refreshing cocktail, and enjoy your own little slice of paradise.
5. Highlight the flower beds
Palm trees don’t always need to scream tropics. If you want to add more interest to your flower beds, consider adding some native flowers. This can help your flowers stand out and look more attractive.
Although you may already have a palm tree in your yard, you can always add flower beds. You can style your flower bed around your palm in several ways, such as choosing the colors, edging, mulch, flower height, and texture.
A new palm tree in your garden can make it look more attractive, while a new flower bed can also help to make a palm tree that was previously in a lonely spot look more noticeable.
6. Partner with boxwoods
To create a stunning contrast of textures, combine palm trees with boxwoods.
This landscape design will add different shades of green to your yard, as well as different shapes, sizes, and angles.
81 By hiring a landscape professional to shape your boxwoods into an art piece, you will be able to enjoy your own private green oasis.
7. Create a garden centerpiece
Palm trees can help to bring a unified look to your yard by being used as centerpieces. The best low-growing palm trees are typically those whose foliage will be at eye level, as opposed to staring at a tall trunk.
Pindo palms have long feathery leaves that arch toward the ground, making them a dramatic focal point.
A sago palm’s fronds can also be used for landscaping purposes, just like those of a cycad. Sago palms can grow up to 10-15 feet and their fronds can be used for landscaping, similar to cycads. With their swollen trunks and dark green leaves that can measure up to 5 feet in length, these cycads make for a beautiful and sturdy centerpiece.
8. Glow up with landscape lighting
Why not keep showing off your landscape when the sun goes down?
If you have a few lights around your palms, it will impress your dinner and party guests. An evening with friends by the pool, with the stars shining and the landscape lights across the palm trees. The night doesn’t get more perfect than that.
9. Add some cactus
Cactuses = low-maintenance, drought-resistant garden. Succulents can be found in many different climates around the world, including deserts, jungles, and mountains.
If you want your landscape to look like an island getaway, you should grow exotic plants with your tropical palm.
10. Complete a rock garden
Your rock garden is a calm and relaxing place that includes your favorite stones and a comfortable place to sit. But what’s missing? A little rock garden with some shade, maybe some green, or perhaps a soothing centerpiece would be perfect. Why not a palm tree?
A rock garden is a popular choice for someone looking for a low-maintenance option that is also drought-resistant. When choosing plants for a rock garden, it is best to select a drought-tolerant palm that won’t require much watering.
The date palm is a drought-tolerant plant with a sturdy trunk and feathered fronds. This palm has a crown of fronds at the top, which can be up to 20 feet long and have around 100 leaflets each.
As you welcome the shade under the palm leaves, your rock garden will become the perfect place for quiet reflection and meditation.
11. Cool off on the balcony
While smaller palms are great for privacy and making a statement, sometimes you need a taller palm tree for shade. When you’re sitting on the second-floor balcony in the hot sun, it can feel like you’re being burned.
Foxtail palms are a great choice for extra shade because they have long, snakelike leaves. Although they are not as large as some trees, they can still grow up to 25 feet and have a large head of leaves. The leaves are fluffy and can grow up to 8 to 10 feet long.
The cocos, or queen palm is a great choice to grow near a balcony, deck or patio for shade. This palm can grow to be 50 feet tall, with a 20 to 25 foot canopy.
A professional landscaper can help you choose the right palm tree to provide shade near your home. A landscaper can help you figure out how far away from your house you should plant a palm tree.
You are not just working with a palm tree, but also the path of the sun. If you want a shady spot, you need to plant a palm tree in a place where it will block the sun during the time of day when you are most active outdoors. A professional can help determine where the palm will provide the most shade at the best time of day.
