Hi Like all flowering plants they are classsified by the flower but there are other differences particularly growth habit . The travelers palm will form a trunk which carries the foliage in the fantastic fan shape . getting at least twice the height of WBOP which is far more cumping in growth habit though it will form a trunk There are also several subspecies of Strelitzia regina which have slightly different growth habits but remain under 8 feet with no trunks flowers are far more spectacular . Another is S juncea which has tube shaped leaves There is also a S. American relative which you almost never see for some reason. Google Strelitzia the genus name for more info than you'll ever want to know lol gary

Hi I struggled with mine for many years and finally had it removed .Way too tall for any space I had for it. Found that when you move them they clump rath than trunk and the develop multiple trunks. always wind damaged and attracted ants .wasps and bees. Anyway was VERY easy to move but sprouted again in the old location.The last time I moved it was around 15 feet required around 4 foot hole to get to the base of the root.Don't plant it under any structue or near the house and plan on an area of at least 20x20 feet Are you going for a trunk or multiple sprouts??If trunk you might try cutting all the secondary sprouts once established.Getting it to grow was no problem controling it was impossible lol garya

It depends on where you live in the bay area and your exposure. Best scenerio is you live away from right on the bay,south of the Golden Gate by 10 miles to downtown San Jose,and you can then plant it as Bahia said,up against a hot wall or courtyard where heat builds up AND that bay breeze is blocked. Without a doubt you dont want it to be shaded by structures or trees. Would also help to have a stone mulch under it. Stones tends to be warmer and drier. T.P.,IMO,doesnt have to be as large as the tropics to be a showpiece.Just that unique fan shaped growth of leaves stands out. And if you get any trunk in a decent period,that's just more bonus! I dont care what others say. The difference in tropicalia growth here in the bay area can be SouCal like in the most favored areas. No frost and mid 70's to near 80 all summer is not what most people think we have.Most think of frigid San Francisco and that blustery wind and dense fog. I havent had a single plant that grows in SouCal easily,not also grow here in the eastbay.Not as large or as fast as in S.C., maybe-but growing. Mangos,Pachypodiums,Ficus like benjamina to petiolaris,even the Bo tree. When we get those once a decade freeze's,spend some time to cover and protect and your plants WILL survive.Not a bad trade off for such a northerly climate and a hour's time throwing blankets on plants once a decade!

A photo would help. You haven't mentioned whether you water or fertilise it. I planted a small one a few years ago but it has grown reasonably well. They like a lot of water. I'm closer to the equator than you but not on an island so our dry season is hot and very dry. That's when I have to give it a lot of water. Wet season it doesn't get extra. If you're not watering yours during the dry season that could be a part of the problem but wet season you should get some growth.