For years I have wondered why palms are not present in all homes where house plants are enjoyed. I have about come to the conclusion that price and a general misunderstanding about these wonderful plants are the main culprits. The price for a developed palm plant can be quite staggering. Even the smallest palm in a five gallon container can cost around twenty-five to fifty bucks. A mature tree palm delivered to your home can cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

A misconception about palms is that they will only grow in the tropics and deserts. While it is true that many of the over three thousand species of palms do thrive in these hot humid areas, it is also true that some are quite cold hardy and with some degree of protection can be raised in areas where it freezes. And it is very true that almost every palm makes a good houseplant although some of the tree types will eventually out grow their limited surroundings.

Another unknown about palms it that they can be easily raised from seed at a cost of less than a dollar each. They require little maintenance and add beauty and value to your home.

Here is a selection of my favorite palms. I hope you will try a few.

Note: Don't forget to use Jim's Palm Tree Plant Food   for the healthiest, most beautiful palm plants possible!

Palms

P11 Silver Saw Palm acoelorrhaphe wrightii.
A palm widely used in Florida for street decoration. It grows to a height of 20 ft. It has a slender trunk covered with brown fibers. The leaves are fan shaped and a light green with a silver back. The seeds germinate quickly and easily. This is good outdoor palm for mild climate areas.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

P16 Queen Palm syagrus romanzoffiana.
An excellent palm from Brazil. It withstands a wide range of climates and can be raised outside in northern areas if protection is given. The first simple leaves of this palm can be up to 3 ft. long. It will grow up to 60 ft. outside. The trunk is long and slender and will bear distinctive old leaf scars that accents its tropical look. The leaves are long and curving. Can be raised as a houseplant inside.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

P18 Traveller's Palm ravenala madagascariensis.
A very large plant with large leathery leaves that reach 60 ft. tall or more when mature. Rather easy to raise inside or out.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.25

P28 Canary Island Date Palm phoenix canariensis.
From the Canary Islands off the Coast of Africa, this palm is widely grown as an ornamental tree. It is tolerant of cold and drought and can be easily raised from seeds if given heat. Outside, it will grow up to 60 ft. with a 3 ft. diameter trunk. Inside, its growth can be regulated by the size of container it is raised in. It has a distinctive spiky, architectural appearance that is a must for any home. It bears 2 in. long fruit that is orange when ripe. The old leaf scars on the trunk form diamond shaped patterns.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

P30 Parlor Palm neantha bella.
Grown throughout the world as a houseplant. Easy to care for with few requirements. Leaves are leathery, pinnate.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.50

Seed Packet#Z1865
Bottle Palm Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
The Bottle Palm is a well known and very popular ornamental from the Mascarene Islands for tropical and warm subtropical regions. It produces a curiously swollen trunk, the shape of which is somewhat reminiscent of a Champagne bottle. The crown holds up to five leathery, pinnate fronds, supported by a slender, waxy crownshaft. The Bottle Palm grows fairly slow but it is a tough plant that can take drought and coastal conditions without a problem.
  5 seeds $4.95

Seed Packet #Z2477
Chilean Wine Palm Jubaea chilensis
Probably the most massive and undoubtedly the most cold-tolerant of all pinnate palms, this species, although unfortunately not common in cultivation, hardly needs any introduction. Native to central Chile, it is well suited to temperate and subtropical climates.
It is highly drought tolerant but will also do well in cold and humid conditions. It does not need hot summers to grow well and in winter it can take severe frost down to -16°C (3°F) unharmed. For many temperate climates it is the only large pinnate palm which is cold-tolerant enough to be successful long-term. Many fine, centennial examples can be admired for instance in California, Australia and along the Mediterranean, in southern Switzerland, along the windy Atlantic coast of France and even in Britain. And there are many other areas where it would do well but has not been tried much.
Germination and establishment are slow but easily accomplished and young plants are sought after and of high value as they are rarely found in the nursery trade.
  5 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95

1A128 European Fan Palm Chamaerops humilis
Popular landscape palm. Slow grower, eventually clustering, and with age may produce branching. Palmate leaves may be unpredictably green or glaucous blue. One of the hardiest palms - to 20 degrees F.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.95

1A129 Chinese Fan Palm Livistonea chinensis
Very popular broad leaved fan palm to 40' with thick trunk. Its large fan shaped leaves have numerous pleats. It is seen often in tropical landscapes and is one of our most popular palms. Fast germinating.
  Package of 10 seeds $1.95

1A131 Texas Palmetto Palm Sabal texensis
This stately, robust palm grows up to 50 ft (15 m) tall with a solitary trunk, 8-32 in (20-81 cm) in diameter. The spread of a mature Texas palm may range from 8 ft (2.4 m) to 25 ft (7.6 m). The gray trunk has closely-spaced annular rings.
Usually part of the trunk remains covered with old leaf stem "boots", that often split at their base. These persistent boots form a characteristic crosshatch pattern on the trunk. The petioles (stems) of the Texas palm are smooth and completely thornless and may grow up to 15 ft (4.6 m) in length. Texas palm has 10-25 fan-shaped leaves ranging in color from deep emerald green, for palms in shade to part shade, and varying to lighter green in color as leaves receive more sunlight.
Each leave has 80-115 leaflets with threads along the margins of the leaflets. The leaves of the Texas palm have a prominent and strongly downward arching costa (leaf midrib) which gives the leaves a folded three-dimensional effect. Texas palm may flower when very young, often blooming when the trunk is very small or nonexistent. The Texas palm produces an inflorescence, branching as long as the leaves, having small white flowers. Male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. White flowers produce round-oval fruit that are black when ripe.
The Texas Palm can be separated and identified from other palmate-leafed palms by its long, smooth, nonthorny petioles (stems) and long, downward arching costa (leaf midrib).

The Texas palm is native to the southern part of Texas, the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. The natural habitat of the Texas palm is the rich soil of coastal bottom lands.

Texas palms tolerate drought and adapt to a wide variety of soils including those that are neutral, acidic, clayey, wet and slightly alkaline. Texas palms thrive in a humid atmosphere in rich loamy, moist and well-drained soils. Texas palms are traditionally slow growers, however regular fertilization with palm grade fertilizer promotes maximum growth. A balanced slow release palm fertilizer with minor elements, e.g., an 18-18-18, may be used during the growing season. Potassium nutritional deficiencies can develop on older leaves and may show up as translucent yellow or orange necrotic spotting. Mineral supplements should be administered in appropriate recommended amounts to prevent or treat such deficiencies. Texas palm is resistant to lethal yellowing disease. Light: Texas palm thrives in partial shade, partial sun or full sun.
Moisture: The Texas palm is drought resistant when established, but grows faster and looks better when given adequate moisture. Texas palm tolerates moist, wet locations and occasional flooding.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 - 11. Mature and established Texas palms can tolerate occasional temperatures down to 12ºF (-11ºC), with minor or no leaf damage. More cold hardy data on the Texas palm is expected as its cultivation becomes more widespread. Some palm enthusiasts are reporting success with growing Texas palm in USDA Zone 7b.
Use the Texas palm for formal groupings, as a lawn tree, in large scale plantings and as that special accent tree. Texas palm is best utilized in medium to large yards as the palm may grow 50 ft (15 m) tall and 25 ft (7.6 m) in diameter. Texas palm may be used in a variety of locations as it is tolerant of many soils, wind, drought, and salt.

A very robust, stately and hardy palm, the Texas palm is now starting to receive attention from growers and enthusiasts. Once abundant in Texas, the Texas palm habitat is threatened. The Texas palm habitat has diminished from approximately 40,000 acres in 1925 to its present Texas natural habitat of 32 acres. Texas palm is utilized for thatching, making furniture, fans, hat making, and its rot resistant trunks are used as fence posts and for pilings in wharfs and piers. The Texas palm fruit is edible and called micharo. The Texas palm is one of only two palms that are native to Texas, the other being the much smaller dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor).
  Package of 10 seeds $1.95

2270 California Fan Palm Washingtonia filifera
A 50' fan palm indigenous to California. Distinguished by its large shag of dried leaves that have remained attached to the trunk for many years. The thickness of the old leaves is such a large mass that it's appearance is that of a grass hut. Hardiness: to high teens; recovers from damage quickly, more cold hardy than W. robusta.
  Package of 10 seeds $1.95

RHM047 Rattan Palm Calamus acanthospathus
A strongly climbing rattan with slender canes. It makes few leaves but they are large - to 16" with 3" leaflets. It is suited to warm-temperate and tropical climates. An uncommon palm that could be quite unique as an indoor plant.
  Package of 5 seeds $3.95

Seed Packet#Z1910
Himalaya Climbing Rattan Palm Plectocomia himalayana
Can you imagine a climbing palm, that grows up to 80 feet through the tree tops, that annually is covered by FROST and SNOW!!?? Well, we couldn't either, until we saw the photographs to prove it, and finally saw the plant in the flesh. From north-east India, it is a suckering species that everyone will want to try.
The Himalaya Rattan Palm has elegantly arching, light green leaves, each one equipped with a long cirrus for climbing, oval leaflets and fairly thin, long, suckering canes. It is very fast growing and best suited to temperate and subtropical climates.
  Pack of 5 seeds $5.95

1A132 Southern Jelly Palm Butia capitata var. odorata
It has been suggested by some that the Butia that grows in costal southern Brazil (mainly in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) and Uruguay is sufficiently different and should be recognized as a species separate from B. capitata. It would in this case be called Butia odorata. In general appearance it is similar to the northern form, which occurs in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Goiás and Minas Gerais, with recurved, blue green leaves and a stout trunk. Some features that set it apart are its compact, wind resistant habit and its small fruits and seeds. Due to its southerly habitat it is the cold hardiest form, taking severe freezes without any harm.
  Package of 10 seeds $1.95

P35 Edible Date Palm phoenix dactylifera.
This palm is grown commercially throughout the Middle East for its delicious and abundant fruit. It can be easily grown indoors. Outside, it will grow to a height of 80 ft. with a 12" trunk that is covered with attractive leaf scars. The leaves are feather shaped with a beautiful gray-green coloration. It is a fast grower. Everyone should have one of these plants.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

P49 King Palm archontophoenix alexandrae.
A common sight in the tropics and subtropics. This is a majestic palm with huge silvery-green leaves and a light gray trunk, often swollen at the base. Bears cream colored flowers and can be raised inside if given high heat and humidity. Seeds germinate within a few weeks. Outside, the tree will reach a height of 60 ft.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

TPF188 Illawarra King Palm
Similar appearance and faster growing than the regular Archonophoenix cunninghamiana King. There is much debate over how cold hardy this palm is, but it is generally considered to be hardy to zone9b, possibly even 8b, though we do not know this for sure, we have seen it take cold to 27°F without damage. This is an excellent palm for containers. The tree is easy to identify since mature trunks show the wide spacing between the nodes of trunk ring. Flower stalk develops below the crownshaft. Originated in Australia south of Sydney. The smaller canopy spread make this a good choice for mass plantings to create the tropical landscape.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.25

P60 Mexican Cycad Dioon edule.
Not a true palm, but a cycad much like the "Sago Palm" in appearance. An extremely attractive specimen for the home or greenhouse. Seeds are quite hard to come by.
  Package of 3 seeds $3.50

RMC001 Blue Mexican Cycad Dioon spinulosa
An unusual cycad native to Mexico. It is palm-like with thinner leaflets than Dioon edule and an erect slender trunk to 16'. The large seeds may weigh approximately 1 ounce each. The young leaves are a translucent blue-green. The mature leaves are numerous and arch gracefully to 7' and most leaves have up to 240 light green leaflets.
  Package of 5 very large seeds $5.50

P63 Panama Hat Palm carludovica palmata.
Again, not a true palm although you wouldn't know by its appearance. It has handsome pleated fan shaped leaves that appear in tiers in a spiral arrangement. Leaves are used in hat production. A very special plant.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.50

P65 Royal Palm roystonea regia
A very beautiful palm that is grown in many countries. Outside it will grow to 80' with a whitish, bulged trunk and leaves often reaching 3 feet or more.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.50

P68 Chinese Windmill Palm trachycarpus fortunei
A hardy fan palm that can stand cold to 15 degrees and also makes a good container plant inside. Fibre covered trunk and fan shaped leaves reaching to 3 ft. across. Easy to grow from seed.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.50

D9608 Sealing Wax Palm cyrtostachys lakka
A stunning feather palm with a bright red trunk. It is a tender palm and not easily grown outside of Malaysia. The seeds are very slow germinating and the plant needs constant warmth and light. You may wonder if any plant is worth this much trouble, believe me this one is.
  Package of 5 seeds $3.50

D9603 Mexican Blue Palm brahea armata
A slightly cold hardy palm that is so unusual with its silver blue palmate leaves with arched spadices. Also a good tub plant.
  Package of 5 seeds $3.00

RHM101 Sombrero Palm Braha dulcis
A beautiful fan palm producing blue-green leave. Ideal for warm dry regions and is frost resistant. Very slow growing - to 20'. The fronds are more finely cut than most within the genus and this feature gives a more delicate appearance. Produces sweet edible cherry sized fruits. Native to Guatemala and Mexico.
  Package of 5 seeds $3.95

RHM120 Indonesian Houseplant Palm Hydriastele microcarpa
From the islands off Indonesia comes this wonderful palm perfect for patio or tub. An elegant, slender, solitary palm that will grow to about 25 ft.tall outside in zones 10 and higher, it is well suited for indoor containers in cooler climates. It has long, spreading leaves and somewhat clustered, broad leaflets.
  Package of 5 seeds $3.95

1A037 Princess Palm Dictospermum albumarmata
Most unusual palm that flowers at an early age. Attractive blackish gray trunk and long arching fronds up to 3' long.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.50

P20 Ponytail Palm beaucarnia stricta
One of the most widely raised palms in the world. Very easy from seeds. Has the familiar swollen trunk and grass like leaves. The perfect houseplant.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.25

FA34 Guatemalian Ponytail Palm Beaucarnia guatemalensis
This Guatemalian "Pony Tail" is increasingly popular because of its ease in producing multiple stems from its swollen base as it is developing. The stems are stiff and upright and are topped with tufts of long thin leaves which gracefully enhance the overall look of the plant. May be grown in full sun or in filtered light.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.95

RHM099 Giant Ponytail Palm beaucarnia stricta
This Pony Tail has a bottle shaped trunk, short stiff branching and tufts of 2' leaves at branch ends. Flowering is conspicuous with bright red large spikes at the branch tips. Very slow growing to 20'
  Package of 10 seeds $3.95

P24 Butterfly Palm ( Golden Cane Palm ) areca lutescens.
This is probably the most widely sold palm in the world. It is sold as a potted plant throughout the world. It is a fast growing clumping palm with pale green feather shaped leaves and slender trunks. It is best suited as a house palm and the seeds should be planted together to form a clump. Seeds germinate quickly. Plant needs plenty of sunlight.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

P55 Pygmy Date Palm phoenix roebelenii.
This is a palm that truly everyone should have. It makes a great houseplant or lawn ornament. It only grows to 10 ft. ( smaller in containers ) and forms a perfect miniature palm. It has a slim, solitary trunk with soft feathery green leaves. The seeds germinate easily ( usually within six to eight weeks ) and the plant requires little maintenance or attention. Tolerates low light and abuse. This palm is a must for any deck. Zones 9-11 outside.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

3212 Hybrid Pygmy Date Palm ( Phoenix roebelenii hybrida )
A very fast growing pygmy date palm, if you are needing to grow full size pgymy dates quickly, this is the one to choose. Pretty much identical to the standard Pygmy Date, except it is a faster grower and does not produce viable seed. Excellent patio plant, zones 8b-11 outside.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.25

1A004 Amazing Climbing Palm desmoncus schippiiarmata
A fascinating plant indeed. A vigorous climbing type palm that utilizes sharp spiny barbs to allow it to climb to great heights. Can be trimmed to control size. Slow and difficult to germinate, but well worth the effort.
  Package of 3 seeds $2.50

1A002 Peach Palm bactris gasipaes
A fast grower to 60 ft. with large leaves up to 12 ft. in length. It is very ornamental and bears edible orange fruits that are quite tasty.
  Package of 2 seeds $2.50

1A089 Sugar Date Palm Phoenix sylvestris
A large, fast growing, and very ornamental species that is actually quite rare in cultivation. Its tall trunk is much more slender than that of P. canariensis, and its very full and dense crown has elegantly recurving, grayish, plumose leaves. It is as easy to grow as any Phoenix and will adapt to temperate as well as tropical conditions. Temperate to tropical climates ( Zone 8b-11). Well suited for indoors, good for patios and verandas when small. It is a very attractive palm and easy to grow as long as you provide a sunny position and good drainage. Also a good landscaping palm.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.50

#Z2666
Bangalow Palm archontophoenix cunninghamiana
A Sub tropical to tropical palm from the Rainforests of central eastern Australian coast. This is a very similar palm to Archontophoenix alexandrae in both appearance and size (it gets to about 25 metres (80 feet) tall with a spread of about 2 - 2.5 metres (10 - 15 feet outside in warm climates). It also makes a wonder container plant when young and grows well inside in bright light and warmth.
The leaves, which have paler stalks, are bright green above and below, although there can also be brown scales underneath. They are much heavier looking than A. alexandrae, giving it a more lush appearence.
  10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #Z1548
Bull Thatch Palm Sabal maritima
A large palmetto that is native to Cuba and Jamaica. While closely related to S. causiarum and S. domingensis, it has a thinner, taller trunk and upright inflorescences. A robust, easy, and fairly fast growing palm for warm temperate to tropical climates, a wonderful garden plant and good patio plant when young.
  10 seeds. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #Z1535
Oaxacan Pony Tail Nolina longifolia
Similar to the common Pony Tail, Beaucarnea recurvata develops long, straplike leaves that can reach a length of about 2 m (7 ft.) in mature plants. As a young plant it can be kept as a robust indoor plant, when older, it attains dramatic, treelike dimensions and will grow well in the warm temperate or subtropical garden.
  10 seeds. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #Z2502
Spindle Palm Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
A well-known and much-loved tropical palm with a spindle-shaped, swollen trunk and stiffly ascending, pinnate leaves. The Spindle Palm is quick to germinate, easily cultivated, and fast growing, making it ideal for the tropical or frost-free subtropical garden, or as an attractive indoor specimen for a brightly lit spot.
Price per pack: $4.95
  10 seeds per pack.

#Z1815
Lau Fan Palm Pritchardia thurstonii
Similar to Pritchardia pacifica, this species grows on coralline limestone on the tiny islands of Fiji's Lau group in the South-West Pacific. It is one of the most attractive, robust, and easily grown fan palms for tropical climates. It makes a great inside tub plant for patios and sundecks in colder climates.
  5 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $2.95

Seed Packet#Z1850
Ribbon Fan Palm Livstona decipiens
A graceful, very fast growing, tall palm from eastern Australia with finely divided, weeping fan leaves. It is easy to germinate, fast and easy to grow, very adaptable and hardy in every respect, a nearly foolproof palm really. It has already been successfully tried as a landscape and even indoor plant on a commercial basis.
  5 seeds $2.50

Seed Packet#Z1925
MacArthur Palm Ptychosperma macarthurii
Originally from Northeastern Australia and areas of New Guinea, this small, suckering palm has become widely distributed as an ornamental in tropical and warm subtropical areas. The MacArthur Palm produces a dense cluster of slender canes, each topped by a small crown of light green, pinnate leaves. It is ideally suited for the smaller garden, best under a canopy of tall trees, and will also do well as a potted plant indoors if it gets bright light.
  Pack of 20 seeds $5.95

Seed Packet #Z2475
Majesty Palm Ravenea rivularis
The Majesty Palm is a comparative newcomer to the palm scene. Despite that, it has become incredibly popular, mainly due to its attractive appearance, with feathery green leaves and thick trunk, but also because of its legendary speed of growth. It comes from Madagasgar, where it grows in swampy areas up to an altitude of about 600m, it requires lashings of water, fertile soil and heavy feeding to maintain its appearance, color and growth rate.
It thrives in a whole range of climates from tropical to warm temperate and while not very frost tolerant, it will put up well with cool conditions, and also performs nicely as an interior plant if the light is bright enough.
  10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $3.95
  Bulk pack contains 25 seeds. Price per pack: $11.95

D9691 Madagascar Palm ( Dypsis madagascariensis )
This is a medium sized solitary or clustering palm. It has a plumose leaf and nice color (blue-green, white and some black) to the crown. It is a moderate to fast grower and likes to be in full sun. A great palm for gardens in Southern California. Cold tolerance is in the 30°s. Unusual shaped foliage and stems that are slender and jointed bamboo like. This is a very unusual palm that requires warmth. Difficult to germinate and raise, but well worth the effort.
  Package of 5 seeds $2.50

FA31 Guangxi Dwarf Palm ( Guihaia grossefibrosa )
This an excellent new variety of palm to grow as an almost care-free houseplant or patio plant, slow growing, reqires very little care and stays small when mature. Native to southwestern Guangxi in China and Northern Vietnam where it grows in a rugged environment on steep karst limestone cliffs, this petite palm forms a low mound of light green, flat, fan-shaped leaves. It grows a slender trunk with age that can reach up to 3-4 feet tall in containers, a little taller outside and is clothed in coarse, dark fibers. The leaves appear wispier and are rather green than silvery below. It is very slow at first but later develops into a reliable and hardy palm that will do well in all warm temperate and some tropical climates. It is also great for cultivating in pots and perfect for growing as a bonsai.
  Package of 10 seeds $2.95

1A247 Kentia Palm ( Howeia forsteriana )
Kentia palm is highly prized for its elegant fronds and slender trunk. Kentia palm has a canopy of about three dozen gracefully drooping leaves which produce an airy and poised look. The leaves are pinnate (featherlike) and grow up to 12 ft (3.7 m) long with thornless 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) petioles (leaf stems).
Kentia palms tolerate and adapt to a wide variety of soils including those that are neutral, acidic, clayey and slightly alkaline, but they perform best in rich loamy soil with excellent drainage. Kentia palms are traditionally slow growers, however regular fertilization with palm-grade fertilizer promotes maximum growth. A balanced (e.g., 18-18-18) slow-release palm fertilizer with minor elements should be used during the growing season. Magnesium and potassium nutritional deficiencies have been noted, particularly in older kentias. Mineral supplements should be administered in recommended amounts to prevent or treat such deficiencies. Kentia palms in pots or tubs can be left in the same container for many years due to their slow growth.
USDA Zones 9B - 11. Considered cold hardy in frostfree locations. Mature and established specimens can tolerate occasional temperatures down to 25ºF (-4ºC) without incurring significant damage to foliage.
Price per pack: $3.95
  5 seeds

Seed Packet #Z2312
Euterpe precatoria - Mountain Cabbage Palm
Euterpe are among the most delicate looking and most elegant of the many South American palms, with fine pendulous leaflets hanging down either side of the leaf stem like a curtain. E. precatoria is no exception and, with its solitary, slim trunk and green crownshaft, this high altitude species displays all the characteristics that make Euterpe so sought- after for the tropical or subtropical garden. The small seeds germinate easily and subsequent seedling growth is fast in rich and moist soil. They also make great house plants, given sufficient moisture both in the air and at the roots and tolerate low light well.
Price per pack: $4.95
  10 seeds

Seed Packet #Z2302
Coyure Palm Aiphanes caryotifolia
An attractive palm with a ringed trunk covered with dark black spines and broad wavy leaves on pale, spiky stalks. A good indoors plant for sunny areas, but ouch!, watch out for the spines on mature plants.
  10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95
  Bulk Pack of 50 seeds. $17.95

Seed Packet #Z2070
Caryota "Himalaya" - Himalayan Fishtail Palm
Though known in cultivation for a while now, especially in California, where it is grown under the name Caryota urens "Mountain Form," this fabulous hardy species still is rarely seen around. It is a fairly large, vigorous and extremely fast growing tree (up to 2 meters per year) with a dense crown, frequently seen growing semi-wild in the foothills of the central and eastern Himalayas up to 2400m a.s.l.
As indicated by its habitat and by experience from cultivation, it is by far the most cold tolerant Fishtail Palm, guaranteed to stand up happily to cold winters with snow and moderate frosts to -7°C
  10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95

Seed Packet #Z1585
Florida Thatch Palm Thrinax radiata
A very pretty, slender-stemmed palm with glossy, dark green, circular fan leaves that have drooping leaf tips. The Florida Thatch Palm is distributed over much of the northern Caribbean and is a reliable and easy-to-grow ornamental for tropical and warm subtropical areas. A great palm for coastal regions.
 5 seeds: $3.50

Seed Packet #Z2059
Bamboo Palm Chamaedorea siefritzii
Also known as Reed Palm and Clustered Parlor Palm, these are excellent indoor palms that prefer partial shade rather than full sun. Thin reed-like trunks grow in segments, giving them a bamboo like appearance. Grows only 10' tall.
 10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #Z2561
Chamaedorea radicalis
Another beautiful landscape palm from Mexico that clusters from the base to a height of about 10 ft. when grown outdoors. It flowers when young, with the inflorescence held high above the dark green foliage. It has orange-yellow flowers and orange fruits. It grows best in shady, moist areas outdoors, but can be grown inside if properly tended.
Cold tolerant to 18-20° F.
  10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95

Seed Packet # Z2005
Seed Name: Clustering Fishtail Palm ( Caryota mitis )
An easy to grow clumping palm from Indonesia that can reach 30 ft. tall when mature.
Often grown in clumps to form an attractive visual effect.
10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95
 

Seed Packet #Z1496
Mexican Grass Tree Nolina Longifolia
Also known as the Oaxacan Pony Tail, it is similar to the common Pony Tail, Beaucarnea recurvata. It develops long, straplike leaves that can reach a length of about 2 m (7 ft.) in mature plants. As a young plant it can be kept as a robust indoor plant, when older, it attains dramatic, treelike dimensions and will grow well in the warm temperate or subtropical garden or still grown inside as a tub plant. Hardy to zone 8 outside.
  10 seeds. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #1A083
Philippine Dwarf Sugar Palm Arenga tremula
A handsome clustering palm from the Philippines which grows to about 3 or 4 metres, and is suitable for a range of climatic zones from temperate to tropical. Leaves with long and narrow leaflets, green above and glaucous beneath, supported by slim, green, ringed trunks.
  5 seeds. Price per pack: $5.95

Seed Packet #Z2118
Red Traveler's Palm Ravenala Guyanensis
A rare form of the well known Traveler's palm Ravenala Madagascariensis, this is actually not a palm, but a relative of the banana plant. A very striking specimen outside in zone 10 or higher, it can reach 50 ft. or more when mature. It's name is derived from the fact that the flower bracts and leaf sheaths hold rainwater, which a weary traveler could use when no other water source was available. It has huge palm like leaves that can reach 12 feet long and over a foot wide. Seeds sport bright red arils ( Ravenala M. are blue, thus the name ). Makes a striking inside houseplant when young, it will eventually outgrow most containers.
  10 seeds. Price per pack: $5.95

Seed Packet #2139
Hispaniolan Palmetto Palm Sabal blackburniana
A magnificent large fan palm with huge bluish leaves and white flowers; zone 8b-10. Prefers partial shade or partial sun to full sun; soil should be dry to wet. A rare find.
  5 seeds. Price per pack: $2.95

Seed Packet #2140
Chusan ( Cold Hardy Windmill Palm ) Trachycarpus fortunei
There is not much to say about the humble 'Trachy' that has not been said before. This most popular of the hardy palms has been cultivated in the West for a hundred and fifty years since the explorer and adventurer Robert Fortune first saw it growing (though not wild) on Chusan (now Zhousan) Island off the east coast of China. Cultivated on the mainland for much longer than that, its origins are obscured in history. Its hardiness against cold is legendary, as is its easy care nature, and its wide availability means it is often the first hardy palm that many of us own. It is also probably the palm species best tested and documented for its frost resistance.
  10 seeds. Price per pack: $2.95

Seed Packet #1A223
Manipur Palm Trachycarpus manipur
A fast growing trachycarpus with good frost resistance, said to be cold hardy down to 0 degrees F., but we do not know this for sure. Very attractive container plant, will grow to 45 feet tall outside. Good landscape specimen.
  10 seeds. Price per pack: $1.95
  100 seeds. Price per pack: $12.95

RMC002 Acrocomia Vinifera
Tropical American palm having edible nuts and yielding a useful fibre. Slow growing to 25' with 9' pinnate leaves and 22" leaflets. Petiole is hairy with sharp 3' spines. Old leafbases remain adherent to trunk. Large Seeds
  3 large seeds per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #RHN004
American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera
This oil palm has some similarities to the African oil palm but they are not to be confused. The trunk creeps along the ground for several feet producing new roots before turning upright and growing to a height of 5'. The leaf petiole is spiny and grows to 5' followed by pinnate leaves that reach 12' or more with flat leaflets that are up to 4' long.
 5 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $4.95

Seed Packet #2142
Cabada Palm Dypsis cabadae
A medium sized clumping feather palm with a blue/grey crownshaft. Similar to Golden Cane except without the gold colour and is slower growing. While it has only very recently been rediscovered in the wild in rainforest on the Comoro Islands, it can be seen, albeit rarely, in cultivation in some private and botanic gardens, and should indeed be much more widely cultivated. It is a clustering species with leathery, glossy green leaves, scarlet red fruits, and slim, attractively ringed, slender, blueish green trunks. It requires a tropical or subtropical climate and also make an excellent houseplant when young.
  5 seeds. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #1A100
Woolly Jelly Palm Butia eriospatha
At first sight looking much like Butia capitata it is immediately distinguishable by its woolly inflorescence spathe. Indeed the red-brown colouration of this rather thick fur is visible from quite a distance and renders identification quite easy. This attractive feature, together with the fact that it is probably the most cold hardy in the genus, makes it an excellent proposition for the temperate garden. Butia eriospatha comes from extreme southern Brazil where it grows up to about 1200m (4000ft).
  5 seeds. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #1A101
Stumpy Palm Dypsis carlsmithii
This species has only recently been scientifically described in a joint effort by John Dransfield and Jeff Marcus. It is a gorgeous and stately large palm with a robust, smooth, solitary trunk and elegantly arching, large, plumose leaves. It will make a great specimen for the larger garden or park and should lend itself very well to avenue planting in the tropics or in warm subtropical regions.
  5 seeds. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #Z2080
Trachycarpus takil
Coming as it does from cool, moist oak forests in the Himalayas in Kumaon, northern India, to 2400m above sea level, where the winters are bitterly cold and snow is common, this species is the hardiest of all Trachycarpus. In appearance, it is similar to T. fortunei but taller, more vigorous and larger in all its parts. Also, its fibres are thinner and shed readily, leaving a naturally bare trunk. Unfortunately there is still much confusion about the identity of this palm, as one of its relatives, T. wagnerianus, a species which is not known in the wild, with small, very stiff leaves, is commonly referred to as T. takil. The two have no connection. This is the "True Takil".
  10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95

  Bulk Pack 100 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $35.95

Seed Packet #Z2507
Trachycarpus latisectus - Windamere Palm
This recently-found and now officially described palm is surely one of the most exciting new discoveries for temperate area palm enthusiasts. It has large, robust, nearly circular, fan-shaped leaves like a Livistona. It sheds them naturally, leaving a smooth, slender trunk. It grows fast and easily and withstands snow and heavy frosts, coming, as it does, from high altitudes up to 2400m (8000ft), but it is equally suitable for sub- tropical climates. It certainly is a most talked-about palm.
  5 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95

Seed Packet #1A106
Trachycarpus martianus (Nepal Form) Martius’ Himalayan Fan Palm
Similar to the now popular T. martianus from the Khasia Hills, this form from the Himalayas in Nepal, has slightly smaller leaves with fewer segments and is more tolerant of frost and drought as it grows further north at higher altitudes. Equally fast and rewarding to grow.
 10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95

Seed Packet #1A107
Trachycarpus nanus Yunnan Dwarf Palm
The smallest member of the (Trachycarpus) genus, and one of the most sought-after, this diminutive, very adaptable and extremely cold hardy palm does not grow a trunk, or at least, only an underground or a shortly emergent one. From Yunnan, in western China, they are pretty palms, not unlike Chamaerops at first glance, and are often an attractive blueish colour. A further interesting feature is the fact that the inflorescences are held upright, an adaptation to keep them off the ground. Unfortunately this makes them very vulnerable to the goats, with which the area is over-run; consequently very few plants set seed.
 10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $5.95

Seed Packet #RHM107
Dwarf Sagisi Palm Heterospathe minor
A very pretty, smallish palm from rainforest on the Solomon Islands with a thin stem and finely pinnate, flat leaves. Best suited to a humid, tropical climate but also easily grown indoors as a very attractive, dainty pot plant.
 5 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #1A109
Giant Fish Tail Palm Caryota obtusa (India form)
Caryota obtusa is by far the most massive of the Fishtail Palms. It is found scattered over a vast area between north-east India and northern Thailand, always growing in the mountains. The form from N. Thailand, which has recently been described as C. gigas, was introduced into cultivation many years back. The true form from the N.E. Indian States of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, however, where William Griffith collected the type specimen for his description of the species in PALMS OF BRITISH EAST INDIA (1850), never made it into cultivation. As such, we are very pleased to be able to offer this form to you now for the very first time ever! This awesome and majestic Fishtail Palm has a thick trunk (to 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) in diameter) and huge, flatly-held leaves in the manner of a giant tree fern, which it resembles. The seeds germinate quickly, and subsequent growth is extremely fast, up to 1 m (3 ft) per year once established. The Indian form grows in the Himalayan foothills at altitudes of up to about 1000 m (3300 ft), and much further north than the Thai form (C. gigas). While the two are not really different in appearance, the Indian form will likely grow in even cooler conditions, and tolerate even a few more degrees of frost. Grow it where its great size can best be appreciated, and give it plenty of water and fertilizer. It is a "must" for tropical and warm temperate parks and gardens.
 5 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #1A226 Dwarf Date Palm
Phoenix humilis
A slow growing Phoenix palm growing only about 15-20 tall and spreading the same. It is cold hardy to about 20 degrees F. and an outstanding pot plant. Used widely for decorations, it's familiar Phoenix type leafs are pinnate, and can grow to 10 feet long. Easy to care for, only needs are lots of water and full sun during the summer months and good soil.
 10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $2.95

Seed Packet #RHM056 Hurricane Palm
Dictospermum album var. rubrum
Long arching fronds with broad leaflets to 3' having a blackish grey trunk to 30'. Known for flowering at early age and for its bulging base and large crownshaft. Beautiful in the tropical landscape.
 10 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $3.95

Seed Packet #2741 Mountain Date Palm
Phoenix loureiri var. humilis
A fast growing, non-suckering palm that resembles the canary island date palm very closely, but is frost hardy and can be grown in cooler climates. Good outside palm, or container palm when young.
 5 seeds per pack. Price per pack: $3.95

Z2001 Sago Palm ( Cycas revoluta )
One of the most primitive living seed plants, they are also very unusual and popular ornamentals. A rugged trunk, topped with whorled feathery leaves has lead to the common name "Sago Palm", however it is actually related to conifer and Ginko trees - all cone bearing plants which trace their origins back to the ancient flora of the early Mesozoic era. Often called "living fossils", Cycads have changed very little in the last 200 million years.
Regardless of age or size, Cycas revoluta is one of the easiest plants to grow, indoors or out, by beginner or expert. This subtropical adapts to a wide range of temperatures from 15 to 110 degrees F (-11 to 42 degrees C), accepts full sun or bright interior light, thrives with attention, and tolerates neglect. In addition, Cycads are extremely long-lived. A 220 year old specimen of Encephalartos, a relative of Cycas revoluta, is on display at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew England; the restoration of the famous Palm House required it to be temporarily transplanted to a holding area for more than a year; the move was successful and is an example of the durability of these ancient "living fossils".
This is an excellent opportunity to raise these expensive plants yourself for less than a buck a plant.
These are fresh seeds that will germinate in a few months. If kept in the refrigerator, these seeds will remain viable for over a year.
Excellent container plant or outside garden plant for warm climates.
  10 large seeds per pack. Price per pack: $7.95
  50 large seeds per pack. Price per pack: $31.95