Types of Small palm trees 
for Indoors, Patios, and Small Yards

Small palm trees blend tropical beauty with practicality.

An ideal choice for embellishing both your indoor and outdoor spaces. Their small size lets them fit into small spaces outdoors like a patio or deck, compact backyard or limited front yard.

Plus they adapt well to containers. For a deck or patio, or for inclusion in your living room decor.

• Most are Low-Maintenance Plants - palms that easily do well.
• Compared with All Kinds of Palms, these make a big impact in small spaces.
• Perfect for containers, courtyards and interiors.

Potted & Perfect on a small deck.

So, how do you decide which types of small palm trees are the best for you?

First figure out which you prefer, to have a palm in your outdoor landscape, or have an indoor potted palm. In either place, evaluate your available space and light.

• Small gardens outdoors benefit from slow-growing small palm trees because they don't outgrow the area. But you also must coordinate your small palm choice to your climate zone.

1. Find Your Climate Zone>

• For indoor spaces, match palms to the varying light conditions. Consider where you might place them - next to a bright window or in a corner without much sunlight. 

Continue on for our palm species descriptions to help you decide.

Dypsis lutescens is a fabulous indoor palm. Want to Try One?

Also known as (AKA) Golden Cane Palm or Butterfly Palm. The Areca Palm Tree does well outdoors, too, for sure.

Height maxes out at 40ft/12m. For USDA zones 10-11. Indoors it won't get as big as that, maybe to 10ft/3m. Either way it grows somewhat quickly. It does spread, growing multiple trunks.

Care Notes:

• Needs bright diffused light, prefering some shade.
• High water requirements.
• Indoors it may attract spider mites.

See More About the Golden Cane>

Areca Palm at a gate entryway.

Chamaedorea cataractarum is actually named for its native rain forest environments near waterfalls (cataracts). And not a meowing cat!

Cat - Palm: NOT! 😉

If you Purchase C.cataractarum, it will grow to 6ft/1.8m, and a bit wider. Also called a Cascade Palm. As a clustering palm, the Cat Palm Tree gets multiple trunks. Best in Zones 10b-11. Can survive warmer 10a Microclimates.

Care Needs:

• Requires high watering schedule. One of the few palms that likes soggy roots.
• Prefers shade, or some sun. The more sun, the more watering.
• Excellent indoors when placed near bright light. Watch for mealybugs & mites.

Also called the Cataract Palm.

Guihaia argyrata is also nicknamed Guilin Dwarf Palm & Vietnamese Silver-Backed Palm, which refers to chalky/bronze fan leaf underside. Giving it an awesome look!

Gets multiple trunks, to 8ft/2.4m tall & just as wide. It's a slow grower, best for Climate Zones 9-11, 8b arid areas. They're difficult to find, but Maybe You'd Like to Get Seeds to Germinate It Yourself.

Care Needs:

• Medium/low watering schedule.
• Part shade or sun.
• Indoors place it for good air circulation near a sunlit window.

Note the different tinge on the palmate fronds' undersides.

Licuala grandis is a gorgeous palm native to rainforest of South Pacific islands. 

Ultimate growth, somewhat slowly, at 20ft/6m, with huge fronds. As a potted palm no more than 12ft/4m upward. Its crown of large roundish fronds spreads to 8ft/2.4m. For Zones 10b-11, 10a with extra care.

Sometimes may be hard to find, But Take a Look Here>

Care Needs:

• Be sure soil is filled with humus. High nutritional needs.
• Part shade is best.
• Needs consistent water & high humidity.
• Gorgeous for indoors, placed near indirect light, and add a humidifier nearby.

A beautiful round palmate frond, notched at the tips. Well named!

Pinanga coronata is a Palm That Originates in rainforests. Giving you a hint of water needs!

Reaches 25ft/7.5m outdoors, but maximum 10ft/3m indoors. Clustering trunks. Zones 10b-11, 10a may be doable.

Care Needs:

• Hardy, but high water requiremenst.
• Part shade, use filtered light indoors.
• Needs organic soil.
• It has a Crownshaft For Easiest Maintenance.
• Not always easy to find, but We Found This One Here - if it's still available!

Reinhardtia gracilis is often shortened to Window Palm. Distinctive wedge-shaped leaves have slots at the base.

It's another that's often difficult to locate for buying. Seeds May be Available.

It usually spreads with multiple trunks. Climate Zone 10b-11 outdoors, warmest 10a ok. But its perfect for containers inside, or even a small patio. Only gets 5-12ft/1.5-4m tall, slowly.

Care Needs:

• Bright, but mostly shady areas.
• Humus soil.
• Medium watering requirements, don't let it dry out.

Distinctive look - fronds are split in the middle.

The binomial (scientific name) is Rhapis excelsa, aka Tall Lady Palm. It clusters, with fronds far down its trunks. Well known as an inside potted palm. See if They'll Ship One to You>

Outdoors suitable for Zones 9-11, can try in 8b warm climes. No, it doesn't get very tall, 12ft/4m or less, but slowly.

Care Needs:

• Likes some shade, the hotter the outdoor climate the more shade it needs.
• Only average water. Adaptable for soil, but if alkaline manganese deficiency can occur; also iron.

This tall lady isn't tall - but has many trunks!

Syagrus schizophylla has an interesting single trunk with narrow old leaf bases, making the trunk appear thicker.

Suitable for Climates 10-11, warmest 9b with watchfulness. Grows relatively slowly to 25ft/7.5m max. Can be potted for inside rooms. You may run into trouble finding one, even the Seeds Can Sell Out Quickly.

Care Needs:

• Part shade or sun.
• Best with added humus to soil, but not essential.
• High watering need.
• Caution: slightly given to get lethal yellowing. 

Looking happy sporting its feathery fronds.

Chamaedorea elegans is also called Neanthe Bella. Probably the most popular palm houseplant, cherished sine the Victorian era, as they're Easy Maintenance Types of Small Palm Trees.

Outdoors only good in 10b-11. A little slowly, can get 8ft/2.4m tall. Here's One You Could Have!

Care Needs:

• Only shade to part shade.
• Best with humus filled soil.
• Needs lots of regular watering.
• Watch for spider mites, which can commonly attack.

For good health give it regular attention.

The H.forsteriana common name is Kentia Palm.

• 50-70ft/15-21m tall, usually slowly. Perfect indoors, where it won't go SO tall.
• USDA zones 10-11, dry 9b ok.
• Part shade to sun, best if mulch added to soil, average watering schedule.
• Be watchful for red scale.
• You could Have One of Your Own!

Called the European Fan Palm (aka Mediterranean Fan Palm), it's best outside.

• Gets to 20ft/6m up, while usually clustering out to 30ft/9m wide at medium speed.
• A bit cold-tolerant, good for USDA Zones 8-11.
• Wants full sun, ok for any soil, water weekly & prefers low humidity.
• If you Plan to Plant One, its care is easy. But watch for potassium deficiency.

A Mediterranean Fan doing really well!

Nicknamed Bamboo Palm or Reed Palm, indoor or out. Get it Shipped From Here?

• Maximum height: 12ft/4m rather quickly with Good Palm Care. Dense clustering.
• Does fine in zones 10-11, but with outdoor freezes in 9, it revives from the ground up.
• Good in shade or a little sun, flexible for soil, medium thirst.

For something really different, Get This One!

• Bottle Palm Trees have a single, unique trunk it grows to 30ft/9m. Almost looking like it comes with its own decorative bottle-like container!
• But only best for Climate zones 10b-11. Warmest 10a might work.
• Likes some shade but ok for sun, any soil, average watering.
• Watch for potassium deficiency.

A unique trunk on this type of small palm.

AKA Atherton Palm & Queensland Kentia.

• Trunks might cluster, for full height of 15-20ft/4.5-6m. Good for indoors.
• USDA zones 10-11.
• Part shade, slightly acidic humusy soil, high water needs.
• A Down-Under native may be difficult to find, except locally in Australia!

Red Flowers give it a stunning contrast.

AKA Miniature Coconut Palm. Not a True Cocos/Coconut Tree. But see if this fake-out Cocos Palm will grow into Your Cococnut Palm Tree Look-Alike.

• Lone trunk gets this palm to 15ft/4.5m up.
• USDA 10-11, carefully in 9b.
• Part shade, in slightly acidic humus-packed soil, requires high watering & high humidity.

Called Mini Coconut Palm
When grown will it end up imitating a Coconut Tree?

The Seashore Palm Tree is only suitable for outdoors. Can't always find it, though we'd love to. How about you??

• Full height, somewhat slowly, is only 8ft/2.5m. That small because the trunk grows underground! Quite bushy spreading to 15ft/4.5m.
• Zones 9-11, 8b can carefully be ok.
• Full sun best & tolerates wind, sandy soil, average water requirements.
• Slight tendency for lethal yellowing.

Do you live near the shore? Great choice!

Common names: Needle Palm, Vegetable Porcupine. Sturdy, with easy maintenance. You can check out Getting One Here>

• Growth height to 12ft/4m, clumping to 8ft/2.4m wide. But slow-growing. Not really suitable as a Potted Palm.
• A very cold & drought-hardy palm species, ok for zones 6b-11. It's a Native Palm in the southeastern U.S. May find it locally there.
• Fine with some shade & extra shade brings fullness, needs humusy soil with consistent moisture.

Likes the humusy soil of woodland forest.

Called Dwarf Palmetto or Bush Palmetto. Not best for indoors. 

• Full height, very slowly: 20ft/6m.
• Another cold-tolerant, Zones 6-11, possibly 5b. Native to southeastern U.S., plus Texas, Oklahoma & Arkansas. Here's One for You!
• Situate in shady spots, in mucky soil with lots of humus. Though it likes water, it's drought tolerant!

Did you want to...

• Create a lush patio oasis?
• Upgrade your indoor decor?
• Make a statement for your curb appeal?

Small palm trees are excellent for your Landscape Design Plans. We've gathered useful, charming ideas to make the most of their appearance outdoors or indoors.

Want to add a tropical line-up along walkways?

Small palms can be quite flexible.

Working as a Focal Point or as a complementary backdrop for mixed plantings. Check out these winning combinations for different settings:

OUTDOORS:

• Pair types of small palm trees with Short Tropical Flowering Plants.
• Combine Cold-Hardy Palms (like The Needle Palm) with Suitable Evergreens for a four-season tropical illusion.
• In Xeriscapes Use with succulents and Ornamental Grasses. Especially if you need drought-tolerant palms.

Example of a xeriscape landscape centering around a small palm.

INDOORS:

• Place your palm with Peace Lilies, Snake Plants, or ZZ Plants for a modern indoor jungle.
• Use tall, narrow palms (Kentia Palm) as Natural Space Divider accompaniments, between rooms or work zones.

SEE OUR TIPS ON PURCHASING YOUR PALMS>

Visual Design Tip: Alternate leaf shapes — feather palms contrast beautifully with broad-leaf companions Like This Little Fiddle-Leaf Fig.

Design a differentiation between your palm frond shape
and your added plants.

Varied types of small palm trees add exotic elegance & movement to any outdoor setting. Here are design-forward ideas to try:

• Poolside Retreat: Frame your pool deck with potted palms on Wheeled Planter Bases. Easy to relocate when following shade or keeping out of storms.
• Tropical Border Plantings: Use types of small palm trees along walkways or patio edges for softness and texture.
• Courtyard Corners: Add Bottle Palms aside Square Pots for Architectural Impact.

Garden Centerpiece: Use some type of small palm tree as a sculptural focal point in rock gardens or Mediterranean-style beds.