Sabal minor placement in the landscape

[Small palm]

Hey palmtalk, I haven't been on here in a while since I went off to college, but it's Spring break and it's time to get out in the garden. 

I have a Sabal minor seedling I want to plant in the yard, but I'm not sure about it's placement.

I know Sabal minor is a smaller bush like palm, but I've seen pics of some that look kind of big. They seem to be variable in size. Mine have a bluish color to them if that means anything about the type of Sabal minor I can expect. 

I have 2 locations that I am considering with pictures below. The spot in the first picture is located next to a Butia paraguyaensis, Japanese maple, Syagrus romanzoffiana, and the fence behind it. There is roughly 3 feet between the possible planting location and all the things I named above. There will be a 6 foot diameter of space for it basically. 

The second spot is currently occupied by a triple Chamaedorea plumosa that isn't doing too well. I may move it for the Sabal minor. This spot has a mule palm about 3 feet away and a fence 3 feet behind it and a fence 3 feet to the right.

The first spot gets about 2-3 hours of sun and the second spots gets less sunlight. 

I'm mostly concerned with room for root growth and room for fronds to grow. I'm wondering which spot you all think is best? 

Thanks

[PalmatierMeg]

All the Sabals need as much heat and sun as they can get. You don't much heat in the Bay area so sun exposure is a must. Given your cool climate and paucity of sun, expect your Sabal to be very slow growing, more so than usual.

[Laaz]

The native sabal minors here grow as under-story palms in heavy shade. But heat is a must for decent growth.

[Ben in Norcal]

On 3/30/2017, 12:38:16, PalmatierMeg said:

All the Sabals need as much heat and sun as they can get. You don't much heat in the Bay area so sun exposure is a must. Given your cool climate and paucity of sun, expect your Sabal to be very slow growing, more so than usual.

This is not accurate.  The Bay Area is one of the most variable places on earth, from a microclimate standpoint; including some quite hot places for much of the year.  Average highs where I live are above 85 all summer, and days on end of 100+ are common.  105+ degree days, or even higher, happen in stretches every year - and I literally don't see a cloud for 7-8 months of the year.  Hot, baking sun with low humidity.  Just 25 miles away in SF, it can be 40 degrees lower and cloudy.

Heat loving plants (e.g. Brahea) do very well in my climate, while cool loving plants (e.g. Ceroxylon) struggle.  That is flipped probably 15 miles from here.

Everyone seems to assume that Bay Area weather is like SF.  In reality, SF is much like an island in a vastly different surrounding climate.

[Small palm]

Thanks for the replies. If I decide to go with one of my Sabal minor seedlings, I'll make sure to plant it in the spot that gets more sun. 

@Ben in Norcal makes a good point. The Bay Area is full of many microclimates, from cool coast to hot inland. I live in Vallejo, which is right in the middle. It's about 30 miles from SF. We average in the 80s during the Summer with the occasional 100 degree heat.