Unless the buyers like palm trees, absolutely nothing.

My fear is that it would lower the value (if it has any impact). My thought is that most people would think, "I don't want the hassle of babying that palm every winter"; or, "I don't like non-native plants in my backyard".

dln949

I agree that it would do nothing to the home value. I had palms in ground in my yard for about 4 years, and only had 2 people comment on how "cool" it was that I had palms growing in my yard. Most seemed to not notice them, or they commented on how beautiful the yard was. The thing is...its possible to make a yard beautiful without palms.

My thoughts are if I can find those few types of hardy tropicals that can survive in zone 6 after a few years of establishment, it may add a little appeal and interest. I'm hoping sabal minor, musa basjoo, and hardy bamboo will add that interest for me, and after a few years will not need protection.

I already have 2 types of hardy bamboo growing unprotected, along with sabal minor, but the sabal minor lost most of their fronds last spring. As for musa bajoo, this is the third year I'm trying to overwinter. This year, I planted right up against the foundation, so we'll see...

If it looks somewhat pleasing, people won't notice. If it looks bad then they will say something.

The point is pretty much moot, as far as I'm concerned. Except for the 15 foot Trachy fortunei in front of the house, I'm not going anywhere without my palms, even if I have to rent a tree spade to move 'em!

I recently sold my home here in the Birmingham area and when I first placed it on the market I was concerned that my "jungle" might turn off potential buyers. My realtor posted several exterior pictures in the online listing & made a point to include many of my palms in the pics she took. I happened to be at home quite a few times when realtors showed it & maybe only once or twice did anyone comment about my palms. But at closing the couple that bought my house were quick to tell me that the first thing that attracted them were the pictures that showed my "tropical" landscaping. Would they have purchased it without the palms? Probably, since it was a very unique home anyway.....a pedestal-style built on a mountainside with huge rock outcroppings. But at least the palms didn't hurt me, as I sold for just a few hundred less than my original asking price which is very good in today's market.

I spot palms first - I don't know if palm lovers have a certain 'style' or just an attitude about life. Given choice between identical homes I'd give more for the one with palms. Then again there are people who like nice square hedges, not a leaf out of place, and wouldnt stand for tropical. Every style house is improved with palms as far as I'm concerned, even if they are in pots.

I have an uncle who lives in an neighborhood 15 miles from the coast in california and he was told that they can't
plant palms or tropical trees because they make the neighborhood look bad ! Can you believe that ?

Only 15 miles from the coast! Like living in a candy shop and not being allowed to have any. This nutty HOA should be challenged, and besides, who decides if a tree is "tropical"?

Im in tampa FL, I was buying and selling homes in an old destrict of town and the key to selling houses was the tropical landscaping such as a nice avacodo, mango tree, xmas palm, larg bird of paradise to accent the house. I loved painting the houses a dark gray with an off white trim. The bright green leaves from the palms exploded next to the dark color of the house. And u cant forget to paint the doors black with nickel door knobs...... I dont think u should plant trees in your zone that wont survive though. Ive have seen 20k plus more than others without palms in the yard.

To me a yard with tropical landscaping, especially one that has palms is worth more than one without them. I love the Rio Grande Valley and hope to spend the rest of my life there, if I can find a job there, but it always amazes me how in the Valley, as well as in Florida, there are some yards with no tropical landscaping whatsoever. I would certainly be willing to pay more for a yard with palms than one without. It really blows my mind how so many of us would give our eye teeth to have a home in a tropical climate where we could grow our palms in the ground instead of just in pots, and yet some people who live in that climate, don't appreciate it and have just a bland regular yard like you would see further north.

I suppose yards and landscapes during winter from zone 8 and down (or north) may seem a little bland during the winter months.
But, one of the nicest yards I've ever seen is a zone 4 and belongs to our very own "arctictropics", so I don't think location makes it bland. A lot of northern folks have fabulous landscapes. How someone else would take to the requirements of protecting palms in the Northern part of the states when purchasing a home may make a difference.
It's not for everyone.

Right on Donray,I also agree arctictropics has one of the coolest yards anywhere!but it would all be lost over winter by someone who doesn't get it-

Yeah it's very sad to see people plant in the summer just to watch all the plants die in the winter. It makes you want to go out and start digging lol !