It seems that gardeners in Tucson either love palms or they hate them. For my part, I love them. They add diversity and distinction to desert landscapes and they certainly are a must for Mediterranean-style gardens.

   When choosing a type of palm for your landscape, keep in mind it's ultimate size. Some, like the Mexican Fan Palm and true Date Palm grow too tall. They look great from a distance, but on the typical urban property you'll need to lay prone on a chase lounge looking up to enjoy them. Others, like the California Fan Palm and Canary Island Date grow too large. Their massive trunks and gigantic leaves can fill the better part of a back yard.

   The best palms for home landscapes are those in keeping with the size of the property. Even the smallest lots have room for a Mediterranean Fan Palm or Windmill Palm.

   The Mediterranean Fan is a small multi-stemmed palm with deeply cut leaves that vary in color from silver-green to olive-green. Although older specimens can reach a height and spread of 15 feet, they are slow-growing and typically less than 10 feet in size. Mediterranean Fan thrives in full sun and are quite drought tolerant. However, for best appearance, once established, during hot weather they should be watered twice-monthly.

   Another excellent small palm is the Windmill Palm. It's also a fan-leafed palm, with medium to dark green leaves set on a single, straight trunk. Leaves spiral out from the trunk in a windmill-fashion, thus the name. Eventually, this palm will reach a maximum height of 15 feet; but slowly. The "boots" (leaf bases) cling on the Windmill Palm and are edged with brown palm fiber adding to the attractiveness of this palm. Although tolerant of full sun, it's appearance is improved by growing in light to moderate afternoon shade. Watering should be weekly during hot months.

   A medium-sized palm, but one still well suited to the average size property is the Queen Palm. This native of Brazil is the most exotic-looking of the palms grown in Tucson.
It has a beautiful light-colored trunk and feathery, dark-green leaves. Although Queen Palms can attain heights of 50 feet, here in the desert they seldom exceed 25 feet. Queen's prefer regular watering and fertilization. Weekly irrigation is a must during hot weather. Apply a palm fertilizer in mid-April, and again in early July.

   Another excellent import from Brazil, under-used in my estimation, is Pindo Palm, sometimes called Jelly Palm. Pindo has beautiful arching silver-green leaves and an attractive trunk wrapped with outward curving "boots" resembling a King's Crown. Shrubby-looking when young, Pindo's grow slowly to 15 feet with an equal spread. Locate Pindos in full sun. Water and fertilize as recommended with Queen Palms.

   Spring is the best time to plant these palms as they establish best as the temperatures are heating up. Choose a location that has good drainage.

   Dig a planting hole considerably wider, but no deeper than the root ball. Fill in the hole with the soil you took out. Do not amend the backfill soil. Organic amendments such as peat, manure, or compost will interfere with the development of new roots. All air pockets should be tamped out of the backfill as the planting hole is filled. Form a rim of soil around the planting hole to retain water during irrigation.

   The initial watering should be deep and thorough. Filling the planting hole with water up to the rim will be necessary 2-3 times to fully wet and settle the soil. The rootball and surrounding backfill should remain evenly moist, but never saturated, during the first 4 to 6 months after planting.

   Finally, it is important to apply a thick layer of organic mulch over the soil using materials such as ground wood mulch or compost. Pull the mulch back slightly from the trunk. As this decomposes, it enriches the soil while conserving moisture and insulating the soil from extreme heat and cold. Be sure to replenish the mulch as-needed.

   Written by John Begeman,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona,
520-626-5161. - March 24, 2002