Queen Palm Behind the Pool?

19 years ago

Hi everyone! I usually hang out in the pool forum since i'm having one built, and have learned a lot from their expert opinion. Now I'm trying my luck in asking anyone's opinion about planting a queen palm right behind the pool. My backyard is very small so i'm afraid the roots will be too invasive and will be costly to fix in the long run. Being in zone 9 (in Roseville, Ca.) should I opt for the tropicalesque look instead? Any advice for a tropical tree/shrub that will give me height and color but not messy? Thank you so much.

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aikidokap

19 years ago

Well....we have a line of them behind the pool....they are spaced approximately 3-4 ft. from the edge and we've had not problems in the couple years they've been there.

One a bit further away from the pool (say 5-6 ft.) in the corner of the yard is quite mature and has been there since the pool was built 8 years ago. No root problems or damage at all.

All are Queens by the way.

aiki

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Comments (7)

kerrican2001
19 years ago
Palm roots are NOT invasive, and you'll have no problem near the pool. In fact, they are perfect near the pool. Go for it!
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Joey Powell, zone ten does refer to the fact that it is relatively freeze/frost free with the exception of the once-in-a-decade freeze or so, in which case they might get a light frost. The problem with Cal is that the ground temperatures become too cold in the "winter". Air temperatures remain cool and allow the ground to cool as well, and that spells death for a coconut (and other tropicals that don't like cold roots). Sandra Smith, I would also like to add another palm for you to consider (Howea Belmoriana) Sentry palm. And just be advised that C. Humilis and C. Cerifera are clumping palms and they are somewhat pokey - probably not a good idea near sidewalks, especially where one could rub up against the plant. For a really soft, tropical look, Howea Forsteriana and Archontophoenix Cunninghamia are probably the best options (and they are carried all of the time by the big box stores like the Home Depot and Lowes). Like Titodelaselva said, check out the local nurseries. There are many nurseries that specialize in palms in your area (SoCal). I've bought plants from some of the many nurseries around Santa Paula/Ventura/Oxnard.
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What part of the RR/Austin area are you moving to? The winter lows are moderated nearest the downtown area and nearby neighborhoods due to a small urban heating effect on calm, cold nights. I can't say I've seen any ponytail palms in the ground in the Austin area. Without winter protection, I doubt they would last too long in the ground; but one could always try. There are a few good sized Queen palms planted near Taco Cabanas at two locations: south of the lakes downtown & some on highway 79 neat Redbud lane. A cold winter could certainly kill them without protection, but if they are near a building facing south and have some added heat, they can do alright at least for a few years. I have one in front of my home for 3.5 years. I planted it as a 7 gallon palm from HD that was perhaps 6 feet to the tallest frond. I've put C9 Christmas lights (w/o a sheet or tarp to trap the heat) on it to protect the trunk and bud from the winter. The coldest it has seen was 17 degrees for a low temp. Some tips were a little brown on the fronds, but it didn't lose those fronds. It is now about 22 feet tall to the topmost frond and the trunk is about 1.5-2 feet in diameter at the base. Drip irrigation and fertilizer help a lot. I have some smaller ones in my backyard on the north side that were planted as 3 gals 2 years ago, they have handled the cold without any protection and are growing at a good rate. Others in my neighborhood have planted Queens in the past few years and they are doing well. They don't cost very much at these small sizes, and seem to grow pretty well, so you might try them as an experiment. These queen palms might be a slightly different variety compared to those from Florida as the Texas varieties seem more robust, but perhaps that is just due to the soil and nutrients available. If you can find them, there are hybrids between the Butia and Queen (and some other combos as well) that should handle the worst of the cold weather better than a Queen and grow faster than a Butia. As other posters mentioned, if you want trunk forming palms, the California and Mexican Fan palms do well, with the California being much hardier to the cold and ice here. The Butia (Jelly) plams do fairly well except in heavy limestone and are cold tolerant. Sabal palms are also very tough. Windmill palms seem to grow well and are pretty cold hardy. Date palms seem to grow well, but a record cold outbreak cold kill almost any palm, with a trunk, as the all time low is below zero. Good luck.
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It looks grim. Reminds me of frost damage, but notice the others are not affected? If that "crown" dries out, they seldom survive. It may be too late, but you might try bunching and tying the fronds upright. Can't hurt, at this point. I have a Queen Palm and it likes regular water. By your description, your drip system might not be adequate?
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Hi Queens do have some bad habits but then again so do most palms ?? I use mine to grow epiphytes mostly Vanda orchids but also bromeliads . Broms will grow right on top of the roots lol. A gazillion varieties to choose from and very little debris . What I do like about Queens is that they hold the spent fronds ,so called self cleaning will drop fronds crushing every thing below lol Of course there are many other types of palms with various bad habits . Would think cluster palms a better choice for containers?? gary
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imqtpi
19 years ago
We've got three Queens behind our pool... No problems w/invasive roots, so far, after three years (that was one of the more MAJOR items on the "Wish List"/Criteria when selecting trees for the pool).

The only problem we ran into - when building the pool, re-establishing the lawn, etc. was drainage...

Unfortunately, there's a slope on the lawn - that runs towards the pool. We have drains built into the concrete, but we did have an area of "pooling" where one of the palms was s'posed to go.

I'd bought three 8' Queens, and was all set to plant them (spring before last), but when I dug one of the holes, I found a MAJOR puddle! Ended up having to put in a french drain...

Two years later... We've got the three Queens along the backside of our pool, and they're doing very well. But they're all living in somewhat "different" conditions. The one on the far left (over the french drain) is now the fullest. The one to the right of the pool is in a pretty "wet" zone, and is planted directly above some of the pool pipes. She's surviving, but not going nuts or anything. The one on the far right is probably doing the best (in terms of the 'grade' in the yard, this one's the highest-up - and also planted directly above pool pipes) - she has no "drainage issues" and is definitely thriving.

Unfortunately, I don't have any recent pics posted - but I will add them to my website - possibly tomorrow (weather-permitting!) And if I do, I'll post the URL :-)

Anyway, they're all within 3-4' of the pool and haven't caused any problems so far...

HTH

-Nancy
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
19 years ago
When those Queens get old enough they will produce copious amounts of flowers and fruits. I have a couple nearly 8 feet from a pool and still the bits and pieces manage to fall in.
Also they get so tall that you will eventually need a pro to remove the dead fronds. I am slowly replacing all my Queens with other less messy and lower maintenance palms.
maleko
19 years ago
I have two queens here in Sacramento and they are doing well but I have never seen a really large queen palm here. Since we are kind of on the edge of their optimum range,they stay pretty small. I don't recall ever seeing one in flower.
They are just about the only feather palm that will grow here except date palms. I guess if there is wind protection you might do bananas or realy big giant bird of paradise. Otherwise queens or windmill palms seen like the logical choice.
Palms are well known for having fairly modest root systems that tend to go deep rather than spread. That is why they can move even really big specimens and they do so well in containers. Good luck.
kerrican2001
19 years ago
Maleko, it's been years since I've been in Sacramento, but I know for sure I've seen huge, mature ones near the capitol. There's that big hotel right around there for one thing, and I know they have a whole grouping of them around their pool, they must be 30 or 40 feet tall. They really should do ok, certainly better than giant bird of paradise, which is pretty tender. I'd still stick with the palms around the pool.
maleko
19 years ago
OK I stand corrected. There a some bigger ones. I guess I didn't look that closely and thought they were date palms. They look much different when they mature from the seedlings that you see in pots most of the time around here. But the fact that they have them around the pool and they have had them for many many years indicates that they are not that messy or there just are not many alternatives here in northern CA, especially when it comes to taller palm trees. If you wanted a lower shrubier look cycads would be nice and very clean. Let's face it, healthy plants will reproduce and that means flowers, seeds, ect. Just be glad they are not dropping coconuts in your pool:)

Queen Palm Behind the Pool?

aikidokap

Comments (7)

kerrican2001

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cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

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