Replace the queens with solitaire palms

Thank you. I looked at solitaire palms online - pretty tree. It seems that they are also frequently planted very close to the house. Are they same as Alexander palms, right?

After I sent my questions above, I searched through this amazing thread and found lots of great info, including a big discussion about Queen palms. It definitely seems like that's not a good tree for us.

What can I plant in place of the triple robellenii with the same landscaping effect? Are there other smaller palms that like to grow in clusters?

Cluscher, you've figured out Queen palms are trouble. That's a coup already! Palatka hollies are native and carefree. Next to no maintenance and have nice berries in winter. Not always striking, but I have seen a few stunning specimens. Robellinis require regular pruning of very spiny fronds, but if you only have one triple, that's not too bad. They grow slowly, so they stay within reach for many years and are a nice, compact size for many gardens. I can't think of any similar cluster palms except maybe Adonidia merrilli (Christmas palms), which can be found in triples and are very clean, no spines, and grow slowly. They are self-cleaning so don't need to be pruned. They do have red fruits in winter, but if you don't want shedding fruit, just cut the flower stalk off when you see it. These are very nice, commonly found, and easy care. If you plant a triple, make sure you fertilize them appropriately so all three survive. If you love Bismarckias, get one! You've got to have something you love in your garden. Remember they take up a LOT of space, so give it plenty of room and don't plant too close to the house. Crepe myrtles are popular and pretty, but need a pruning once yearly, which if done correctly can take some time. If grown correctly they can get pretty tall- maybe 20-25 feet tall. That's why they are often topped or overpruned. Have fun with your garden! Sounds like you are doing a lot of good research. Wishing you the best!

Annafl - thank you so much for your response! You have given me a lot of confidence to proceed with my 'gut' feelings & some research. We live now in Ft Pierce, and had a large, very ugly dying palm in the front of our house. We took it out, and put in a pretty good size Christmas tree palm! So I guess my instincts are doing okay! I do tend to read up on anything big that I am buying.

You said the crepe myrtle needs an annual pruning, & that might take some time. Why? To keep it's shape? How would we learn how to prune it? What might be a good substitute for a crepe myrtle?

Any comment on the cassia? And what about sylvester palms - don't they come in clusters? Are they easy to care for, or needy?

Again, thanks for your comments.

Crepe myrtles are nice trees. Just do your research and buy the right variety. Some are very tall and in the wrong location for mature height and sometimes people are mistakenly told the crepe myrtals need a hard pruning (aka hat racked) in order to bloom. Not true, if you pick the right variety (mature height, color etc), then you can just selectively prune as needed for shape and air circulation. They are spectacular in bloom but naked or near naked most of the winter so I would place them where they will add to the visual but not front and center. IMHO, similar to plumeria :) The solitaire palm I was thinking of is this one: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60871/ 

ptychosperma elegans

Ptychosperma elegans

The King Palm is nice but even taller. There are about 3-4 varieties. I ve had most of them and love them too but can tower over single family homes

helen

Ps do you know which cassia?

Thank you, Helen. No, I don't know which cassia, or for that matter, which crepe myrtle, or any other tree. Right now, I have an initial landscape design and that's why I want to be able to say to the landscaper, I want "this cassia, not that cassia." The next time I see the landscaper, I will ask him what variety he generally uses.

As I mentioned, this is a new house being built. I am still months from the planting stage, but I am trying to gather as much info as I can.

You said that the crepe myrtle is naked for the winter, similar to plumeria. Is that the case with all crepe myrtles, or just some varieties? Right now, there is a plumeria between my house & my neighbors', on his property. I'm not a fan, since the poor thing looks dead for about half the year. We call it the "antler tree" because when it has no leaves, it resembles antlers! LOL Of course, right now, it is almost in full bloom, and beautiful.

Thanks, annafl. As I said, I'll take any suggestions I can get. Because this is a new home, the landscaping will be done all at once, so I want to try to be sure I love everything going in the first time, and not have to pull out and replant a few years from now if I find I dislike a plant. My main concerns are with upkeep, as we are both getting older, and I don't want to see my hubs on a ladder trying to trim a huge tree.