Palms (palm trees)

Palms

Palm trees look beautiful when planted in the ground. But they also look wonderful in a pot, tub, or container. However, they are vulnerable when not planted in the ground so you will need to keep a careful eye on them. If the weather gets very cold, wrap it in a fleece or a tree jacket and place it in a sheltered and preferably frost-free spot.

Our range includes the following varieties of palm tree:

Chamaerops – this is the only type of palm tree that is native to Europe. It is quite a bit smaller than other palm trees and is therefore also called a dwarf fan palm. This palm has an exotic appearance and is winter hardy to -10 degrees Celsius.

Chamaerops Vulcano – with its compact growth, this palm adds an exotic touch to your garden. You can plant it in a tub or in the ground. It is winter hardy to around -10 degrees Celsius. This compact dwarf fan palm requires little care and maintenance.

Chamaerops Humilis – this palm has beautiful elongated leaves. It is easy to care for and maintain. Plant the palm in the ground or in a pot or tub and it will flourish. The palm is winter hardy to around -10 degrees Celsius.

Phoenix Canariensis – this palm variety can be seen on almost every street corner on the Canary Islands. This stunning palm has a stout trunk with leaf scars and a dense crown with many long arching leaves. It can grow to as high as 13 metres and is winter hardy to -10 degrees Celsius.

Yucca – tough-looking and exotic is a good way to describe this palm. This beautiful plant has long pointed green leaves that grow straight out of the earth or from the trunk. In the summer, you’ll see beautiful clusters of light yellow to purple-red flowers hanging from it. It’s a fabulous sight. The plant does not require much in the way of care.

Yucca Jewel – with its long pointed leaves with light coloured edges and white flower clusters, this plant adds an exotic touch to your garden in summer. It is not very demanding and is winter hardy to around -7 degrees Celsius.

Yucca Rostrata – this palm adds a tough and exotic accent to your garden. The plant has long narrow grey-blue leaves and a thick trunk. It can grow to around 4 metres tall and is winter hardy to around -20 degrees Celsius.

Butia Capitata – this evergreen palm tree adds a feeling of summer to your garden. Its grey-green to blue-grey leaves fan out and hang in a curve and can grow to as long as 3 metres. The palm tree flowers profusely in the summer months.

Cordyline Australis Red Star – this is a beautiful decorative palm. Its eye-catching red elongated leaves have pointed ends, giving the plant a star-like shape. The soft and flared leaves give the plant a friendly appearance.

Trachycarpus Fortunei – this is one of the most popular varieties of palm tree. The plant is a real asset. If you want to add a tropical twist to your garden, patio, or balcony, this is the plant for you. It looks very distinctive and it is also important to know that it’s winter hardy.

Trachycarpus Wagnerianus – this palm tree is lovely to look at and is also winter hardy. Place this palm in your garden or on your patio or balcony and you’ll always get that exotic feeling when you look outside or are relaxing or working outdoors.

Where does the palm tree originate from?

The very first variety of palm tree was grown around 5,000 years ago – the date palm in the Middle East. Today, palm trees can be found all over the world, except for areas where it is too cold, such as icy regions. You mainly see them in the tropics and in the area around the Mediterranean Sea.

Why choose a palm tree?

• Palm trees are beautiful to look at.
• A palm tree gives your garden the ambiance of a holiday in a warm climate.
• The tree does well in the ground but can also be planted in a pot, tub, or container.
• It only requires minimum maintenance.
• You only need to prune it once a year.

When is the best time to plant a palm tree?

The best time to plant a palm tree is from the start of March until October. It is also possible to plant it in other months but you cannot plant it in the ground if it is freezing.

How should I plant a palm tree?

In the ground

• Remove weeds from the soil where you will be planting the tree.
• Dig a large hole.
• Use a shovel to loosen the soil on the bottom.
• Mix this earth with Mediterranean potting soil.

In a pot, tub, or container

• Make sure that the palm and its roots have enough space to grow.
• Choose a large pot, tub, or container so that the plant and its roots have enough space to grow. You could place bubble wrap around the inside for insulation. And make a few holes in the bottom of the pot or container.
• Place a layer of hydrograins in the ornamental pot. Then fill up with special Mediterranean potting compost.

And in both cases:

• Remove the palm tree from its plastic pot and submerge the root ball in water and then place it in the soil.
• Make sure that the top of the root ball is level with the ground.
• Fill up with soil and pack it down firmly.
• Give the plant plenty of water for the initial period, especially if there is not much rainfall. This will ensure that the roots take hold in the soil. If the plant is in a pot, tub, or container, the excess water needs to be able to drain away.

Tips

Palm trees can grow in the ground or in a pot, tub, or container. Choose what best suits you and what you like. If the palm tree is not planted in the ground, you need to move it to a light, sheltered spot when it is freezing outside. It can be quite heavy to carry.
If you need to move the palm, take the temperature into consideration. The tree does not like too great a difference in temperature. Let the plant get used to the new temperature gradually if you’re moving it from a colder to a warmer place. And the same applies vice versa. If you’re moving your plant from a warm and sheltered spot to the outdoors, let it adjust gradually.
Palm trees like to keep warm. So if the temperature drops well below freezing point, the trees in the ground also need extra protection. You could place a fleece over the crown or you could also wrap it up in a tree jacket.

Positioning

• Palm trees like to stand in the full sun.
• It is preferable to place a palm tree near a fence or wall to give it some shelter.
• Make sure you do not place it in a lower-lying section of your garden. If you do, any excess water will flow towards the lower-lying section and to your palm tree. Palm trees cannot tolerate too much water.

Advice & Care

Watering
Palm trees need less water and more sunshine. This is quite understandable as they originally come from warmer regions. However, soil that is too dry is not good for them either.
Water your palm tree if there is not much rainfall. It’s best to water your palm tree thoroughly every now and then instead of watering it a little each time. In fact, you could compare it to a subtropical rain shower with sudden heavy rainfall and then nothing for a while. If you plant the palm in a pot, tub, or container, make sure that the excess water can drain away.
Preferably use rainwater when watering the palm tree. Tap water contains limescale that can affect the roots.

Pruning
If your palm is showing dry, brown leaves at the bottom, it’s time to grab your pruning shears from the cupboard. Remove any dry leaves up to around 10 centimetres from the trunk. It is advisable not to prune them back right to the trunk.

Fertilizer
Palm trees do not need large amounts of extra plant food. If you want to give your palm a little extra, buy fertilizer specifically for Mediterranean trees and plants.

Common problems with palms
Palm trees have little to no trouble with fungal diseases and other diseases or pests.

Advantages and disadvantages of palm trees

Advantages

• Palm trees can be planted in any type of soil.
• They can be planted in the ground or in a pot, tub, or container.
• Palm trees hardly ever suffer from disease or infestations.

Disadvantages

• Palm trees do not like standing in soil that is too wet. Make sure you do not give yours too much water.
• Most palm trees in a pot, tub, or container need to be moved to a sheltered spot in winter. 
• You need to give your palm tree rainwater as limescale in tap water can affect the plant roots.

Conclusion

A palm tree catches the eye and is a real asset for your garden. Order yours today. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us. We can speak to you in your own language.