Palm trees are a beautiful addition to any small garden. The small palm trees that we will talk about in this article can be grown in small spaces and the best part is that they don’t need a lot of care. Whether you have a small patio, or just want something small to add some color and ambiance to your outdoor space, these small palm tree varieties are perfect for you!
For many small yards, planting palms can provide plenty of shade while also adding some great color! In fact, there are many different types of small palm trees that will work well in smaller spaces like patios and balconies too. This isn’t even including all of the benefits these plants offer such as reducing carbon dioxide levels in your home through natural air.
I bought a young pygmy palm tree several years ago when a neighbor gave us a large pot for us to use. I thought this tree would be perfect for the container and patio. While the heavy pot is difficult to move around, I do enjoy the tropical ambiance my pigmy palm brings to our patio garden.
Types of Small Palm Trees
Below are 20 different types of small palm trees. Some of these are not truly smaller, but can be trained to grow small by keeping in a container. Others are not actual palm trees, but look similar and are great alternatives.
Most palm trees that are under 20 feet tall are considered “small”. Many of these do not need much ground space, despite their height. While palm trees are associated with sunny, tropical locations, many can stand colder weather as well.
While most palm trees look similar, you can tell them apart by how their trunks, and palms, or fronds look. See if you can identify any of the palm trees below just by their picture!
Without further adeu, here are 20 small palm trees you can add to a smaller garden for a tropical feel.
Pygmy Palm Tree
I mention this small palm tree, because we have enjoyed one in our patio garden for the past several years. If you want to enjoy a palm tree in a small space, this one is great to grow in a container or small area of the garden.
It has a short trunk that looks similar to pineapple. My pygmy is about a foot tall, but they can get as tall as 10 feet when mature. Mine is only several feet wide, but they can have fronds that spread out to 8 feet.
This small palm tree is one of the smallest in this list, growing up to four feet tall and three feet wide when fully mature. It’s perfect for small gardeners who want a new challenge or those with limited space that can’t support anything larger!
These small palm trees are also great as indoor plants if there isn’t enough room outside for it at all. They grow well indoors but they need plenty of sunlight so make sure you have windows facing east or west in your house before planting this type inside!
Sago Palm Tree
The sago palm is actually a kind of cycad plant, but it definitely looks like it belongs in the palm tree family. The trunk of the sago palm tree looks similar to a pygmy palm with a trunk that reminds the viewer of a pineapple. The fronds are stiff and arch upward before fanning down toward the ground.
Cat Palm Tree
The cat palm is also known by it’s scientific name, Chamaedorea cataractarum. It can grow up to 6.5 feet tall with several stems. Thick fronds grow in all directions on the trunk, creating a densely-packed palm.
It is small enough to grow in a container, for those who prefer growing in pots or only have a patio to garden in. The cat palm grows best in bright sunlight and can be brought indoors.
The Bottle Palm Tree
The bottle palm trees are small, but what’s special about them are their narrow leaves. This makes them look like tall skinny flasks as opposed to wide round bottles when they