Palm Tree Canopy

[PJP]

I’m curious to see what everyone suggest for canopy trees.  I’m starting to lay out my Botanical Garden and need to provide shade trees.  Living in South Florida so I have lots of options.  Long term looking to provide shade and wind coverage for several varieties of delicate palms.  I’m located inland so salt water isn’t a problem.  Some trees that I will be planting are Rainbow Eucalyptus and Leopard Trees.

[sonoranfans]

I south florida palm trees ARE canopy, dont need anything to cover them.  the fastest growers in my yard generally make up the top canopy and then slower growers that are more shade tolerant are in the second and third level canopy.   I do have a small tabibuia ipe and a moderately sized magnolia that give nice flowering show in spring.  I also have a few clumping bamboo for privacy.  but 80% of my trees are palms, you can grow much more flowers/crotons under palms than decidious trees who big woody roots just make planting anything nearby very difficult once they are established.

[kinzyjr]

@PJP

Do you have an idea of how high you want the canopy to be?  That's usually a limiting factor for your selections, be they palms or deciduous/semi-deciduous trees.  As an example, Leu Gardens has a relatively high live oak canopy.  In central Florida, that's pretty much the gold standard for canopy.  There are some Delonix regia around that provide a fairly wide canopy, but the canopy tends to be lower than a mature oak since they sometimes get nailed by cold weather themselves here.  In your area, that will likely be less of an issue.  Pine(s) can sometimes be used as canopy and has the side effect of reducing the alkalinity of the soil around it over time with decaying pine needles as mulch.

Another consideration you mentioned is wind chill, particularly for advective freeze protection from the north and west sides of your garden.  Bamboo, sea grapes, podocarpus and any other number of hardy stalk/shrub plants can cut the wind speed considerably and give you an edge if you're looking to squeeze out every last degree of microclimate.  The larger bamboo species tends to cut the wind at greater height, but sea grapes and podocarpus tend to allow sun to sneak in under high canopy if that is desirable. 

If you use palms for canopy, you're going to want things that grow fast and tall with a dense canopy.  Veitchia arecina tends to grow fast, but you'd have to couple them with palms that have denser foliage if you want to use them for cold protection.

@sonoranfans makes a good point about planting under palms vs. other trees.  If you want the plantings to be right up to the trunk of the canopy tree, palms are the best option.

Good luck with your garden and I hope to visit it one day!

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, PJP said:

I’m curious to see what everyone suggest for canopy trees.  I’m starting to lay out my Botanical Garden and need to provide shade trees.  Living in South Florida so I have lots of options.  Long term looking to provide shade and wind coverage for several varieties of delicate palms.  I’m located inland so salt water isn’t a problem.  Some trees that I will be planting are Rainbow Eucalyptus and Leopard Trees.

Nice choices..

Depending on how much space you have at your disposal, might research such things like Bulnesia arborea, Verawood, some of the more evergreen Tabebuia/ Handroanthus species, Perhaps others like Lonchocarpus violaceus, the pink flowered variety of Pseudobombax ellipticum ( Presents spectacular new foliage also ).. if you want lots of color mixed in throughout the year..

For smaller choices, you could add the two Lignum Vitae species, ( Guaiacum sanctum and G. officinale ) Perhaps some of the less common Bauhinia like B. monandra.  Fragrant additions like some of the more exotic Gardenia species, Milkyway Tree ( Stemmadenia littoralis ) real Cinnamon, etc..

Then of course you have several great choices native to that part of the state including Wild Cinnamon ( Isn't edible though ), Blolly, Crabwood, Fiddlewood, Marlberry,  SatinLeaf,  Seven Year Apple, Acacia choriophylla, Allspice ( yes, the real deal ) Strongbark, Jamaican Caper, Gumbo Limbo ( if you have space ) Myrsine, Silver Buttonwood, and/or some of the Stoppers, ..or Pigeon Plum.. trimmed up, some of  these could as a  natural wind break and provide space below to add in other stuff.. among many other rarities from the Caribbean. Most of those are evergreen, as i'm sure you know..
 
Yea, you could stick to things like using Ficus, Bamboo, or Podocarpus ..Or just palms as overhead canopy / windbreak ideas, but why limit yourself to such a tiny palate.. A great garden is balanced.. Lots of green, lots of color ..above,  and below..
 

[RedRabbit]

Where are you in S Florida? That might make some difference. 

There have been some great suggestions already,  I'll add Spathodea campanulata and Bauhinia × blakeana.

[Frond-friend42]

I like breadfruit and cecropia and balsa. Balsa grows fast i think and has an interesting look. For the non-palms. 

[NOT A TA]

On 5/16/2020 at 10:15 AM, PJP said:

I’m starting to lay out my Botanical Garden and need to provide shade trees.

If you don't have anything to provide some shade to get things started you might try Papaya. Takes full sun here at a young age and can start providing a canopy for smaller plants within a few months. I use them to create a natural shade house. They're easy to cut down when you want to get rid of them and pop right back after hurricanes unlike the hassles of fixing shade cloth structures. These are 10'-12' tall and less than a year old from seed.

[PJP]

Thank you all for all the ideas.  I’m located out West in Plantation.  I’m trying to set up something unique with exotic plantings.  Looking for color also as suggested by Silas.  Currently the property has 12 coconut palms and 6 foxtails. All are approximately 25 feet.  The property sits in full sun in the morning as it faces East.  I will be looking to plant the following once shade is built

 

Acanthophoenix Rubra

Areca Macrocalyx

Archontophoenix Purpurea

Areca Vestiara

Chambeyronia Hookeri sand Mscrocarpas

Dypsis Florencii,  Pilulfera, Rosea...

Lemuropj]hoenx Halleuxii

Licualas

Kerriodoxa Elegans

Pelagadoxa Henryana

Pinanga

Pyyschosperma Waitianum

I have added 10 Satakentia Palms Around the property that are 20 feet OA also.  Looking to add copernicia as well (Bailey, Berteroana and Hospita).  I have also purchased red and blue lantania’s.   Anything with color and scent is on the pallet and I’m looking for suggestions so I don’t overlook any species.  Thank you

[sonoranfans]

save some sunny areas for the copernicias, they look a lot better in lots of sun.