Palm Trees

Many people think palms need tons of water and never associate them with desert landscaping, however there are several types of palms that grow very well in the hot, dry climate. Some of these palms are even found as natives!

The dramatic look of palm trees can help to create a beautiful, tropical feel to your desert garden. Don't be afraid to try a few out, they require very little care, low water and can tolerate our intense summer months. Just use caution: not all palms are created equal! One type can grow like a weed with no attention while another type is almost impossible to keep even remotely decent looking! Know which palms work best and go for it!

When found in nature in the desert palms are usually spotted in canyons or along fault lines where water is sparse but available.

Choosing the right palm tree for your desert garden is easy, but one thing you should consider: size. Some palms, like the California Fan Palm or the Canary Island Date Palm can grow to be quite large and would not be suitable for a smaller suburban garden. Stick with smaller palms such as the Pygmy Date Palm or a Ponytail Palm (which actually isn't even a palm at all, but we'll cover that later!).

There is a strange thing that happens out in desert gardens, many folks want to trim their palms to excess. The best thing you can do for your palm is to leave those fronds alone! They are just fine drying out and hanging low. If you'd like to trim them once a year that's just fine - but make sure they are nearly dead (or completely dead) before you give them a hair cut. When the fronds are not completely brown and dried out that means the palm tree is still using that frond for photosynthesis, a crucial system they need to survive. So keep the fronds and you'll have a healthier plant!