What should I do with this area

[Palmtreedude69]

I have this weird shaped area in the front of my house and I don't know what to do with it original there was a pygmy date that just suddenly died and I am thinking king palm or christmas palm but want to hear what you think about it!

[Merlyn]

For small spots I immediately gravitate to the Bottle Palm, Hyophorbe Lagenicaulis.  I know it's common and kinda generic, but it is still one of my favorite palms.  You could also do a Spindle at the same size, or a more unusual Hyophorbe Indica.  Other small diameter common options are European Fan palm, Chamaerops Humilis.  A "cerifera" silvery type would look neat there, but might be too pokey for a doorway entrance.  If it's mostly shaded in the summer (especially PM sun) you could get away with a Licuala Grandis or Sumawongii (no direct sun) or Ramsayi or Spinosa (part sun).  Lytocaryum Insigne is supposed to be full sun, but looks kind of like a Pygmy Date anyway. 

My only concern with another palm is, why did the Phoenix die?  Was it crown rot or storm damage?  If it was a disease, some live in the soil for decades like Ganoderma.  That would be a risk in replacing it with another palm.  In that case other tropicals might be a better idea.  If it just died one day for no apparent reason, then you might as well pick a palm and plant it, just dig out as much of the roots and replace the soil with fresh native sandy stuff.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

I'd plant a bed of different Chamaedorea species to not risk another palm from dying to a disease or fungus like the previous one.

- Chamaedorea metallica

- Chamaedorea microspadix

- Chamaedorea plumosa

- Chamaedorea tepejilote

And maybe an Archontophoenix

- Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

[Keybmp]

Id consider some type of rhapis, if you like clumping types anyway. 

[Palmtreedude69]

6 hours ago, Merlyn said:

For small spots I immediately gravitate to the Bottle Palm, Hyophorbe Lagenicaulis.  I know it's common and kinda generic, but it is still one of my favorite palms.  You could also do a Spindle at the same size, or a more unusual Hyophorbe Indica.  Other small diameter common options are European Fan palm, Chamaerops Humilis.  A "cerifera" silvery type would look neat there, but might be too pokey for a doorway entrance.  If it's mostly shaded in the summer (especially PM sun) you could get away with a Licuala Grandis or Sumawongii (no direct sun) or Ramsayi or Spinosa (part sun).  Lytocaryum Insigne is supposed to be full sun, but looks kind of like a Pygmy Date anyway. 

My only concern with another palm is, why did the Phoenix die?  Was it crown rot or storm damage?  If it was a disease, some live in the soil for decades like Ganoderma.  That would be a risk in replacing it with another palm.  In that case other tropicals might be a better idea.  If it just died one day for no apparent reason, then you might as well pick a palm and plant it, just dig out as much of the roots and replace the soil with fresh native sandy stuff.

Great suggestions! I have no idea what happend to the pigmy the fronds started to fold up all the leaves died and the crown started rotting so I just cut I down to ground level

[Palmtreedude69]

4 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

I'd plant a bed of different Chamaedorea species to not risk another palm from dying to a disease or fungus like the previous one.

- Chamaedorea metallica

- Chamaedorea microspadix

- Chamaedorea plumosa

- Chamaedorea tepejilote

And maybe an Archontophoenix

- Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

OK thanks for the suggestions!

[ruskinPalms]

Thrinax radiata look great and don’t get too big too fast and don’t have thorns lol. 

[RiverCityRichard]

I second that Thrinax Radiata would look great in that spot. If you do a King, I would go with Archontophoenix Alexandre, or Tuckeri. My Cunninghamiana grows fine in the sun, but gets sunburned this time of year regardless of water. My Alexandre however is faster and greener. In zone 10 you’ll have no issue with either

[happypalms]

Not sure on the sun shade situation but a Johannesteijsmannia Altifrons Kerriodoxa elegans sabinara magnifica lanonia dasyantha if to much sun put up a shade sail that’s prime viewing real estate for a good palm shame sell to a green rhapis or chameadorea sefritzii it deserves a truly majestic exotic don’t muck around don’t go something common spend the money on something good if I was your landscaper a Joey for sure 👍 

[Johnny Palmseed]

If I were you, I would dig out that rootball and maybe treat the area with a fungicide. And I would recommend Leucothrinax Morrisii as a replacement. Slow growing native that is easily manageable and has no spines.

[Palmtreedude69]

Hello just wanted to follow up this weekend I did get a chance to tackle the project I got a  and anodonia merrillii (front) and bentickia nicobarica (back) with some Chinese ground orchids at the bottom

[TropicsEnjoyer]

very nice, hope they enjoy their new home and grow happily.