I guess for the same reason people in the tropics want to grow northern conifers, hydrangeas, and cherry blossums in the tropics.

I just find them relaxing. I just like them. They are something different to me. I'm sick of looking at pines and deciduous trees. So when I can go outside and look at one of my palms, it makes me happy.

Well i know for me they are alopt prettier than the trees around here ! pines and oaks . Them lucky hummingbirds lol !

for me i think it's the wy they grow. they have a different texture than other trees.

Palm trees reminds me of my home country where they grow proud with beauty and elegance.

I think a big part of it is what njoasis said. While in El Salvador, i was amazed at how much they prized roses. And i did not see a single rose bush that looked nearly as nice as my neglected rosebushes here in dry California. The humid, tropical environment isn't meant for roses, yet they insist on growing them despite their raggedy appearance in that climate.

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Had to laugh as I found that true in Costa Rica. Palm glades, giant treefern forests,mist gardens, 1700 species of native orchids and the hotel was so proud of a cane dendrobium lol. The capital grounds had roses surrounded with boxwood lol Much like any formal garden in any temperate zone,had some fantastic "weeds" though Philos Calatheas even pineapple and hundreds of ferns. The keepers were busily chopping them out !!! Can you imagine the fantastic garden from the "weeds" lol
Might add that some of the roses were fairly good probably due to the altitude?? Much much cooler and a lot less rain but was easy tooo see they were doing a lot of work to keep them that way lol gary

I think that those who love Palms are attracted to their perfect symetry and balance. They give a sense of order, stability and endurance. Their fronds reach for the sky in a perfect crown eminating from a sturdy, straight and erect trunk. The growth and form of most other trees seem chaotic and disorganised in comparison. Palms are the paintbrushes of the most ideal landscapes of our dreams and inspire in those with an affinity for them a sense of peace and tranquility.

Well that made most of our other answers sound rather.... stupid! hahaha

Very elegantly put! =]

I think all of them are great answers. Yall are correct. I think for me, its the way the plant presents itself, trunk with a crown on top. aspidistra1 kinda of said it all with that answer. Plus it brings in attention from the neighbors. Mine dont say much anymore, I guess they have gotten use to them. lol

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I think a great deal of the choice of which plants to grow is "snob appeal" Any plant that grows in an area without much help is doomed to common placelol
Note most of the responders to this forum are from places where palms are rare this is also true in the tropical and orchid forums.lol.
All is vanity I'm afraid afterall lol gary

That is an interesting pointgaryfla. I think the reason that the majority of the users of this forum are from areas where palms arent considered "typical" is that in teh tropics and warmer areas palms are commonplace and if people need advice they can just ask a local!

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Proof of my point!!!lol Check out the tropical gardeners paradise formum "Hawaii" Not only is it not active it is full of questions about temperate plants.lol
i love the 'snob appeal " myself I grow a silver joey palm by using a pot never exposing to temps below 60 using light meters to check optimum lighting. While my gorgeous yard palms are sort of "big deal" lol
Imagine my horror when i saw pix of natives chopping off fronds of Joe palm for temporary umbrellas!!!!lol
They should definitely be arrested if not shot on sight!!! lol gary

Palm trees are a symbol of exotic places, and I think the people that grow palms are lovers of exotic places. People spend a great deal on taking exotic vacations to exotic places ... escape to paradise. Why wouldn't you want to bring as much of that to your own yard? Waking up on a cold winter morning and looking out your window at your palms, it takes you some place else for a moment. Don't just landscape your yard, use your windows as picture frames ... what do you want to see?

I think part of the reason is simply that there are very few hardy plants that resemble palms. The leaf shape and growth habit of a palm are very distinctive and bring a very different feeling to the garden. You might as well ask what is the fascination with cannas, or bananas, or elephant ears.

Aside from that, there's also the challenge of growing palms where they're "not supposed to grow". I've found that many gardeners love a challenge, above and beyond just producing a beautiful garden.

I still am amazed that they grow here with very little work or maintenance. My needle palms look great, even without winter protection and made it through a very cold winter last year to still be green at the first signs of spring.

My trachy grew 14 fronds this year and grew about 1-2 feet. I don't know how I am going to winterize this year because it has outgrown my simple turn over a garbage pale filled with oak leaves trick that I've used the last 2 years. Any easy suggestions???

Steve, I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. Your correct. I was thinking, I grow the ones I have to create a tropical patio. I can sit in the den and look out at the palm branches swaying in the breeze. It wouldnt be the same if I had a pine tree out there. Palms have such a wonderful appeal.

Thanks Orchiddude, There is nothing like it, I don't know of any other plant that can do that. I have one room to go, and I'll have a palmy picture view in every room.

What I find most interesting is the fact that most palm enthusiasts are also attracted to aroids/bananas.

You allways want what you can't have!but in this case we have all found a way to have it!I enjoy seeing palms in cali and arizona when I visit there very much,they are so gracefull,but I have to admit that I enjoy the challenge of growing them here in Iowa,the winter is not as bad if I can see my palms standing in defiance to the worst that old man winter can throw out!P.S.old man winter,I didn't mean the worst really!

I think the main reason is: We can't be in the tropics all the time so we do the next best thing and bring some of the tropics to us !