Phoenix roebellini (dwarf date palms)

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The best place to start your tropical paradise is with some inexpensive plants. The very best is the Phoenix roebellini, which is readily available at Home Depot, Walmart, etc. Unless you are going to be viewing your palm trees from miles away, avoid their big brother, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) - those look great along the edge of a golf course, but in an ordinary back yard, they are just telephone poles. To get the most "tropical island" feeling from your Phoenix roebellini, buy one with multiple trunks. They will lean out away from each other and give you the impression that you are in Tahiti! Purchase 5-gallon plants. Remember that these are miniatures. By the way, many plants look the same when small - check the label, be sure it says, "Phoenix roebellini". If you want to be sure of the plant you are getting, get ready to start reading Latin!

These plants will require some special care during the first season or so. They can be killed by frost when they are small, so be prepared to keep an eye on those January temperatures. If it's going to get down below 20 degrees F that night, gently place some old bed sheets on the fronds. Be sure to take them off the next day.

Unlike cycads, palm trees grow continuously. To find a healthy one, look at the center for new strong growth (the "spear"). There should be some white waxy residue on the new growth, which is a sign of health. Plant them where they will get plenty of water, in good potting soil, such as Miracle Grow® Moisture Control. The old adage "dig a $100 hole for a $50 tree" really applies here. Be generous with potting soil, it's the lifeline for your tropical plant. And after they are planted, fertilize them often. Then stand back, they will be beautiful!

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