3 Fast Growing & Easy Hardy Palm Ideas for UK Tropical Style Gardens

[@Gina0151]

Aarghh stop tempting me to buy more palms you! Okay maybe I’ll allow myself a princeps hybrid as a treat. I’ve been a good girl so far and tried to make do and propagate and grow from seed, bulbs, rhizomes this year. Damn it.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hahaha if I can't buy everything I want these days then I can at least pass on my bad influence to you! Well done on being restrained this year and believe it or not, I'm doing the same with seeds here too. I've made most of my plant purchases for the year now, there's a few that I'll share with you soon and then I'm growing plenty from seed and dividing others to fill the garden out this year. Mostly haha...

[@Gina0151]

Yep me too. Money is very tight so I will have to make more plants from what I have this year BUT I am allowing myself 2 hardy architectural evergreen purchases (probably Yucca Gloriosa Citrus Twist and Rostrata) and maybe the princeps hybrid palm. Dividing my cannas and bananas, propagating the shit outta everything else and oooh just bagged a load of cheap bulbs Dahlia, Gladiolas, cannas at Lidl for £1.50 a pack today. Result!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I like your evergreen hardy plant choices, all tough and beautiful plants that should keep giving more impact every year. Fair play to you and good luck with all your divisions! When plants like cannas and bananas grow so easily from divisions, they're definitely a great way to save buying multiples and fill your garden with more leafy goodness on a tight budget. Well done on your cheap bulbs too, I'm hoping I'll snap up some heavily reduced summer colour soon too!

[@TropicalDanUK]

Nice George, just what I was after. I shall be eroding more lawn away from the kids this year much to their dismay but wanting to plant more!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, trying to cover options than the mainstream choices and these ones have all grown really well for me. How are your kids going to be able to lay in hammocks swinging between palm trees in their teens unless you get them in the ground now?! Or make it their jobs to cut the grass this year and they'll be happy to see you ripping chunks of it up!

[@TropicalDanUK]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden hammock is on the cards to be fair. I'm keeping enough space for the 12ft heated paddling pool so I think compromise is appropriate. The kids won't appreciate the garden until they leave home in like 15 years. I assume in the off season you'll stretch a trampoline over the fire pit area for your little one and setup a zip wire to it from the upstairs window!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one! Definitely an appropriate and justified compromise in my book haha! Yeah, you're right and that's probably when we'll actually be allowed to enjoy them! If I had a bit more space and resources I'd definitely consider the zip line - as for the fire pit patio, it could also work out as a nice temporary overwintering space but I may be a bit reluctant to give up a small area for my sanity at the furthest distance from the house possible...

[@Journey_On]

Thanks George, perfect timing 👌🏾

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@freddyvanvliet5386]

Hi George, i’ve got some great results with de Sabal Palmetto here in the south of the Netherlands. Very big leaves yet slow growing but surprisingly frost hardy and beautiful palm tot try out. Not even a bit of frost damage after a winter same as yours. Definitely worth trying if you ask me! Greatings Freddy

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Freddy and thanks for the suggestion - Sabals don't tend to be very popular here, mainly due to the lack of summer heat and therefore very slow growth I believe. Your'e right though, if you're willing to put up with the slow growth like you would with a Chamaerops etc, then you're definitely rewarded with cool, big leaves! We'll see, maybe one to try in the future! Thanks and all the best for your 2024 growing plans.

[@ThePalmDude]

The "no weeds to see here .....or here" captions at circa 5:15 had me in stitches 😂😂. Another superb video George, I have to agree with these 3 featured palms , especially Nova. As soon as the video started I was thinking come on say Nova, say Nova, it's gotta be Nova and then straight away Nova 🙌🏼. Haha not much will beat it for speed, the only one I have that's faster than my Nova is my Nova x Princeps which clearly has Hybrid Vigour to it. Your Princeps hybrid is looking great too mate, another fast grower and the Eriospatha are a magnificent Butia. I think some people are afraid to buy small, but in reality planting a small palm in the ground it then settles in faster and gets growing faster than just planting a larger palm.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yep, zero weeds! I probably should give it a good weed but I'm saving that as a job for the lighter evenings so I can enjoy some chill time out there (getting stung by 1m high nettles most likely!). Yeah, nova and the various princeps hybrids are fast for sure. The Butia was never a plant I'd consider a fast grower and obviously not in the same league as the Trachys but looking back at how big the leaves were before it was transplanted - it's really settled in and grown away so well. Honestly, starting small is one of the best bits of advice you can give for Trachys especially. They grow into far better plants than ones bought large (like my main row you'll see in most of my vids) and get there loads quicker than most people expect!

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

Great palmage video George. My fastest palm growth here has been a trachy that was bought as a standard fortunei but over the past 4 years has shown nova tendencies with elongated petioles. Huge growth rate. I think it's probably a fortunei xnova or something similar. My eriospatha has grown fairly quickly but only season 3 for it really. As you say you can't beat a washy for speed but not a realistic option here without overwintering hassle👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, always happy to share a bit of palmage appreciation! I've seen pics of your plant in question and it's certainly got a nice look to it. Fortunei can be very variable themselves and if it came to an pure growth rate question then I suspect either my shaded Waggy out the front or my fortunei triple between the Jubaea palms have probably put on the most - and those fortunei were the runts of a litter that I sold the rest of / gave them to friends at our old house. All things equal though, I suspect the nova and princeps hybrid would be quicker, particularly once they get to the sweet spot where my nova is now. I think Butia can take a while to settle in but mine has put out noticeably longer leaves since moving in and was definitely a lot more compact palm at the old house. Hopefully yours motors away in the fantastic summer weather I've requested for this year! Yeah, I did consider a Washy (again) but just not worth the bother for me personally. I use -5/6C as my base point for a non-mild winter and if palms etc. can't take that with fleece or looking completely rubbish for most of the following year then they're not going to make the cut! A few mild winters on the bounce though and we'll all be considering them again...

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

@GeorgesJungleGarden You're spot on there. It'd be great if we could leave a washy out to do it's thing but never gonna happen at my place

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Yes, unfortunately realities have to meet our blind optimism at some point don't they!

[@HeathcroftExoticGarden]

Very interesting. Thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you, I'm pleased you got something from it.

[@markchitty6505]

Great vid as always George.... and I currently have none of them lol ... although I do have a waggie which is growing well... just waiting for the ground to dry a little so I can feed them with Palm Focus :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Mark, only a quick one but happy to share some exciting plants! My Waggies have also grown very quickly and they really are a great palm for UK gardens so you're not missing out there at all (but yes, adding more palms is inevitable haha!). Yes, another month or so and hopefully things will be a bit drier for you and warmer so the palms can use the nutrients better and actually get growing again. I hope yours continues to grow well this year!

[@markchitty6505]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George... I do have a Chamaerops humilis, and 2 Trachycarpus fortunei and 1 Chamaerops humilis ‘Vulcano’ :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Great choices and hopefully we get some more of yesterday's sun to get them growing again very soon!

[@DJSupaflyguy]

👌👌👌👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for stopping by again, pleased to be helping keep the tropical dream alive in this weather!

[@EastCoastTropicalGarden]

Great advice, thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks! Happy to share these beauties!

[@shineamenmbs3107]

Trachycarpus princeps hybrid. I like the leaves and the name.... sounds like Princess! The Jubaea is huge, not for my bacony! Thank you George, i like a lot of palms actually. Take care!🙋‍♂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Bernard, the princeps hybrid is certainly a stunner and I'm planning on having a trio of them closer to the house to look onto. I'll be starting small but that's half the fun isn't it. Yes, even my baby Jubaea palms are reaching out now, certainly not the most practical choice for a stylish balcony! Thanks as always for your thoughts and support, all the best to you too!

[@shineamenmbs3107]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you very much for your time. 🙋‍♂

[@RichardABW]

Can't find Butia eriospatha anywhere for ages now. Have a Butyagrus eriospatha though but not ready to put in the ground yet.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one on the Butyagrus Richard, they're certainly plants with amazing potential aren't they and mine has coped outside this winter with only fleece protection which is encouraging. As for erioospatha, yes, it's not as popular as odorata is it. I got mine from Hardy Palms originally but I keep seeing them on Big Plant Nursery as 'not quite ready' or whatever. It might be worth contacting both places for an update on availability...

[@missdimples1982]

Dinosaur 🦕 is looking impressive George

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you! I've still got the Pterodactyl to find a home for but it's a heavy beast so it needs to be a sensible spot...

[@Lderuddere]

On the other end of the spectrum, I don’t see many (really any) UK tropical garden people growing Sabal minor. Is it just too slow/small for anyone to bother with? I have quite a small garden, and I bought a couple of seedlings of the standard variety as well as the Louisiana last fall, and while they only put on one tiny strap leaf since last year, I have seen some videos of people in the U.S. in colder climates (WA, VA, DE etc) and after a couple of years, with enough sun and water they can really take off. I’m hoping that in a few years I’ll have a nice little understory for my trachy as that also grows up.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, that's a good observation and you're generally right! There's a couple of places which sell or have sold Sabals here but the proper isn't so much winter cold but a lack of summer heat that means they are just too slow here. A lot of your main cold-hardy palm growing places in the US still get consistently warm summers but being a small island we have a much cooler and wetter climate overall so plants like the Trachycarpus which prefer those conditions do so much better. For you though, I imagine with the sun and water that you'll be giving them they'll grow well for you!

[@ward1compost]

I'm in zone 7. I just got more seeds. Jubaea Chilensis, Butia Odorata, Phoenix Dactylifera Royal, Washingtonia Filifera and Washingtonia Filibusta

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, I hope they grow well for you! I've grown some palms from seed and am probably proudest of my Jubaea sown in 2016. Hopefully with your summer heat those Washingtonia especially will be really fast for you! Good luck with them all.

[@ward1compost]

@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you! Yes, hopefully the seeds go off to a great start. And I wish all palms were fast growers and admire their distinct beauty

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Yes, the more you get into them, the more you appreciate the different forms, sizes and colourings don't you. It would be great if they all grew quickly though!

[@ward1compost]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Yes 100%

[@PeterEntwistle]

Another great video and brilliant recommendations, George! I would like a Butia eriospatha, although they seem to be a little harder to find than B. odorata. Would you say there is much difference in hardiness between the 2 species in your experience? I do like the sound of the faster growth on the eriospatha, I'll definitely keep looking out for one.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Peter! Yes, fortunei and wagnerianus grow fast but I thought I'd put a few different options together. Erisopatha are a bit tricky to track down, I got mine from Hardy Palms but no stock showing currently unfortunately and Big Plant Nursery always seems to have them listed but unavailable. It might be worth contacting them both? Regarding eriospatha vs. odorata growth rates and hardiness, it's tricky to give a definitive answer and I have lost a small plant of both in the past so I'd definitely reiterate that Butia are potentially a borderline hardy plant for a lot of the UK. Smaller plants settle in faster than larger field grown plants sold in small pots but younger plants aren't as tough in winter so it's potentially a bit of a tricky one to navigate. Going off my two larger plants though, the odorata just to the right of the Jubaea and Chamaerops mentioned in this vid has not shown any winter damage, doesn't get protected BUT has been very slow to grow. My eriospatha got nipped by the Dec 2022 cold and conditions leading up to it but has been fine this winter and has visibly grown very well despite being transplanted. I like the eriospatha green but some odorata can be a stunning silvery grey / green colour which is fantastic too!

[@PeterEntwistle]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks, George! I will definitely contact hardy palms to see when they might be getting some more in. At the moment I have a few young seedling Odorata and Yatay plants, but I moved them indoors when we got very cold nights this winter. I will likely pick up a more mature specimen of Odorata as well at some point as I really love the silvery blue colour they get.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one Peter and great to hear you're looking after your young palms well. Yes, odorata are quite variable but some are proper silver stunners - a real contrast to Trachycarpus and other green exotics and one that'll hopefully prove tough for you.

[@mrchuffy6535]

Great video, just one point though we often think about a nova or a butia (was actually looking dirt cheap palms this morning) and then consider how much bigger a fortunei or waggy would be and it's hard to spend that extra money even if it does catch up in five or six years.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks as always and I hadn't seem the pricing of their plants prior to this video so I get your point. My Nova was grown from a very small plant so less than a tenner and something I'd imagine would now be £20-30 but yes, obviously in a lightly larger size the price does seem to go up to reflect their rarity vs. fortunei. If it was a purely money decision I think I'd start with a younger Trachy from Hardy Palms although for those people with more money to justify spending it's great to see Dirt Cheap Plants expanding their range.

[@user-rk1uz4ur4m]

George i have a Trachy nova it's a beauty, it's leaves can seem bent someimes

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Fantastic, pleased to hear it! Mine isn't the most pristine looking palm up close as you can probably see but the odd leaf being bent or damaged isn't a big deal in the scheme of things and considering it bares the brunt of most of the wind funnelled by next door's conifers and after this winter it doesn't look completely destroyed it's not too bad! The good news is that they'll grow away again quickly in spring isn't it.

[@bdmsouth]

hi George, great video - i'd like to get a decent size Fortunei, and a Waggy - could you suggest best place in Yorkshire? cheers

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thank you very much! Personally I'd buy at a small-medium size online from somewhere like Hardy Palms as they settle in quicker and are generally healthier than large specimens. I don't know where has good stocks of healthy and reasonably priced plants locally in Yorkshire currently unfortunately but places like Vertigrow near York might be worth a try?

[@David_Banner]

Is the Nova a George or Mark 7ft ??? I have a small Princeps X Fortunei hybrid that has been in a pot since last year. But it's definitely time for it to go into the ground and put on some growth in the coming years.. I also love feather palms, Butia in particular.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hahaha good point! In reality it's probably 6.5 - 7ft so within 10% of that - in Mark's words in would probably be a good 12ft all day long! Nice one, I hope your hybrid grows well too, they really are an impressive cold hardy palm. Butia can be properly stunning can't they. Here they're very much a palm for sheltered areas but I'm definitely envious when you see pristine plants growing around London etc!

[@user-nu1hz1mt7s]

thankyou George fantastic video and just what i needed regarding buying palms this year !! would you mind just telling me what is a fast growing bamboo that would pass as a screen to hide my garden fences also looks nice..ps george have you any sponsors yet as i think you deserve some !! just think of all those free tropicals ha ha ..take care buddy ,,,Julian

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks as always Julian! As for the bamboo, I'm a big fan of Fargesia robusta 'Campbell' as it just looks so consistently good and is very tough and adaptable. I'd definitely stick to Fargesia as they're clumpers but I'd search for how wide the bamboo you want gets at maturity to make sure it doesn't get huge (as even some clumpers can do). Scottish Bamboo and Big Plant Nursery etc have a good range. If you want something taller then Phyllostachys aureosulcata forms will be great but you'll want to use a rhizome barrier for them. As for the sponsors, I think a lot of the horticultural world is a bit behind the times there and I did consider putting something out seeing if a company would be up for sponsoring a season of garden visit videos etc. I get loads of emails from ridiculous brands trying to offer products I wouldn't buy and that doesn't interest me but a trusted and exciting plant or garden product brand that would support me in being able to afford better gear, who sells things I'd personally buy and provide some kind of incentive or unusual product for you guys would be amazing and a real win / win / win. We'll see! Cheers Julian, you too!

[@db6625]

Thanks George, you’ve certainly got me hankering after a Trachycarpus nova seeing how yours still looks good after a winter👍 PS…..a while ago you did a video on Linden Nurseries and for the life of me I cannot find a Facebook page or anything on them apart from the address. Have you a link by any chance for opening times etc please?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

They're nice and as much as I wanted to mention the wind factor, that one of mine bares the brunt of most of the wind funnelled by next door's conifers and after this winter it doesn't look completely destroyed so it can cope well! Winter cold from -5 / -6 etc isn't a problem at all. As for Linden Nurseries, they're a bit of an old school family run place so the only contact number is the one on google. They close for winter and this year have added a few more weeks while they extend the carpark as they get so busy during the season. They'll be open in a week or two though and their usual hours are 11am-4pm.

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Hi, top video an can I just ask you, I’ve got banana musa bajoo which I had wrapped in greenhouse but top has died would you suggest chopping soft top section now or wait a few weeks ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, thanks and no problem. With the weather being mild at the minute I'd personally tidy it up by shopping off the soft section now and hopefully the new roller will start pushing through. Just keep some fleece on hand to cover it in case it gets frosty again.

[@DJSupaflyguy]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks 🙏 👌👌👌👌

[@Gina0151]

Hey guys Uk FROST alert for northern England and Scotland Friday night Saturday morning so everyone who’s just unwrapped bananas outside shove a fleece on it and a jacket tomorrow night just in case. We’re also expecting a frosty period end of March so just be prepared to keep the fleece handy. It’s on and off like a bride’s nightie as they say up t’north

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for the mention! Yes, it'll nip down to 2/3 degrees here, nothing too worrying but in colder areas it's worth using some fleece on newly uncovered plants. It can't make it's mind up can it, some nights in double figures then back to just above freezing. As long as there's no proper freezes or really hard frosts though, we can't complain, this is the UK after all!

[@GrowTropicalMK]

I bought a Chamaerops humilis from a neighbour that he had planted in solid clay in 2010. The ground was waterlogged it got about an hour of sun in the middle of summer at the most, but was absolutely thriving. I planted it in the sunniest spot in my garden in a raised bed and it died back to the 1.5 foot trunk within months. I put it in a pot thinking it was dead in a no-sun spot behind my shed and a few Months later it seemed to re-energise itself, new fronds started bursting out. I have this year planted it out again in the sunniest spot of my garden in a raised bed. I really don't know what is going to happen lol

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Plants can be funny things and you definitely get extra tough survivors and others which fail to thrive in all but the most textbook perfect spot and location - most obviously fall in the middle. When it comes to giving a lot of palms other than fortunei a spot in the garden, in theory full sun and good drainage would be the top things I'd recommend but those are mainly to prioritise winter survival. When it comes to summer, a lot of water really helps boost palm growth and a bit of shade isn't the end of the world for most - like a lot of plants they can be tough and adaptable. So if you don't live in the coldest area or your palms are past the trickier young stage then positioning and microclimates are less crucial. Hopefully your palm bounces back in no time after it's move! Some Palm Booster might help it root quicker too.

[@GrowTropicalMK]

@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George and I will be ordering some. Is there a particular time of year to start the boosting?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, I'd personally wait until late April or when it's warmed up a bit as there's no point using it while the soil is still cold and the palms aren't really growing yet.

[@thibault411]

5:10 who said it's weeds? This is defo rocket salads 😅

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That's the kind of input I need when editing these videos, top shout haha! I might just sprinkle some lettuce and radish seeds in the mix then I can claim it's a food forest!

[@maxinethomas6044]

What can you suggest a plam for pots

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi @maxinethomas6044 and cheers for answering @stevea3200 with the same answer I'd give! Chamaerops are slower growing, adapted to hotter and drier conditions and visually look better in smaller sizes when potted so they'd be my choice too!

[@ryanacar3773]

What about pheonix canariensis? I got two baby plants how fast they grow?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, they're a quick palm to grow for sure, especially for a feather palm and as they get larger they speed up. Unfortunately they're not really a hardy option for me here whereas these others seem to be a lot tougher and easier to grow without winter worries and protection for the majority of winters.

[@ryanacar3773]

@GeorgesJungleGarden I'm in dublin zone 9 after watching many uk tropical gardeners yt videos I think I'm quite lucky. My pheonix c have gone through 2 winters with no damage but leaves are getting lighter. Every winter now is milder thanks to global warming, maybe we can grow mare species a few years later. Just bought my self a few trachycarpus f potted plants, hoe they grow fast🤞

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one. Yes, it's important to be realistic about your location and whilst we're all lucky in the majority of the UK in that we can try to grow such a wide range of amazing plants, you'll definitely have the edge over here when it comes to Phoenix and I'm sure yours will green up with some spring sun. There's obviously still potential for severe cold and disrupted weather patterns but equally you only need a few milder winters to get your Phoenix through the tricky years and it'll hopefully be well settled and putting on noticeable size every year. I'm sure the Trachycarpus will grow away well for you!

[@ryanacar3773]

@GeorgesJungleGarden I sometimes risk cheap plants. When I first started gardening here I brought 2 house plants and put them outside(quite stupid). They looked like the the same stuff but one died after a frost but the other survived. Later I founded out the dead one is dracena and the one survived is yucca elephantipes. It got leaves damages but recovers in spring carrying on for 3 years already. That's when I started to check their hardiness zones. But I can't trust rhs completely, they are so conservative saying yucca elephantipes is H2 ,and musa basjoo at H3. I want be able to grow anything if I followed their guide

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That's very true and I certainly don't think you're stupid for trying. I have two large Yucca elephantipes 'Jewel' in pots - they get some winter damage outside but grow away again in late spring and I wouldn't have expected that up here! Yes, you're so much better off using other people's experiences and I've got a lot of my knowledge from other UK growers on the Hardy Tropicals & Growing on the Edge forums then Facebook and here more recently. It's interesting visiting Mark's (Crazy Tiki) garden and seeing what works and doesn't work in his greenhouse over winter as it's the next level up from what we're growing outside and he's experimenting with which houseplants can make it with minimal heating etc.