When you think of Charleston, you probably think of palm trees! From the white palmetto on our state flag to the many varieties lining the streets across town, you see them every where! However, since Charleston is a subtropical climate, not all palms can thrive here! Let's break down our top 10 palms for Charleston so you can find the perfect palm for your home and landscaping!
Not all palms are frost tolerant, so they shouldn't be planted in ground since we consistently experience a hard frost in the winter. These five palms will thrive inside and add a fun tropical flair to any space. If you're creating a tropical oasis on your porch or patio, keep these palms in a pot and bring them inside before freezing weather!
Majesty Palm: These palms like bright, indirect light and moist soil, but never want to be sitting in soggy soil. The large green fronds add instant height to any space without taking up too much real estate.
Areca Palm: Areca palms thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer to dry out about 1/2 way between watering. The thin stems at the base are full, clumping, and typically yellow in color.
Bamboo Palm (seen left): Unlike other indoor palms, Bamboo palms can handle medium to bright light! They want to dry out 1/2 way between watering and they are recognizable because the base of the stems resemble bamboo!
Adonidia (Adonis) Palm: This funky palm thrives in bright light and needs to dry out about 1/2 way between watering. Often seen as single or multi trunk, Adonis palms are very large houseplants and their arching fronds are striking.
Queen Palm: Queen palms are hardy to 25 degrees and can handle sun to shade (they need bright light indoors). We recommend keeping them in pots, but their feathery long fronds make a great addition to your porch or patio throughout the year.
Next up, we have five tried and true hardy landscaping palms for Charleston! We love utilizing these in landscapes for an instant tropical vibe.
Chinese Fan Palm: Chinese fan palms are easy going classic palms that clump together, making great hedges. They like full to part sun and may initially burn in full afternoon sun but should adjust over time. We use them in corners as a focal point, as hedges along borders, and even in pots!
Dwarf Sabal Palm: These palms are hardy all across South Caroline and thrive in full sun and moist soil. They are characterized by most of the trunk being below ground. These slow growing palms are most often planted in groups, growing 4-5 ft high and wide.
Windmill Palm: We love using windmill palms in full to part sun areas! They can tolerate most types of soil, but don't want to be in standing water or direct salt spray. Hardy all across South Carolina and growing about 20ft tall, these palms are a staple and can be easily identified by the black, burlap like fibers on the trunk.
Mule Palm: Mule palms are a hybrid between the queen palm and the pindo palm. They like full sun and will tolerate some shade, plus they are drought tolerant! We love the look of their long feathery fronds and use them to add texture to tropical landscapes.
European Fan Palm: This small, clumping palm boasts stiff green leaves and thick stocky trunks. They are hardy to zone 8a, prefer sun, and are drought tolerant once established! European fan palms are slow growing and stays about 6ft tall in our area, making them great options for smaller spaces.
When picking a palm for your space, there's so much to consider between cold tolerance, size, and sun needs! Stop by the shop and chat with a Meeting Green team member to find the perfect palm for you.
Comments