What Palm to Plant on a Fence

Metal Fences

• Metal fences reflect heat and light, so palms planted in such a "hot zone" must be able to tolerate heat, sun, and the dry soil common in this type of microclimate. The Mexican blue palm (Brahea armata) tolerates heat and wind and thrives in a range of soils. This fan palm has blue-green fronds and reaches 30 feet tall with a 10-foot spread. It grows slowly and produces 18-foot-long stalks of white flowers. The Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) tolerates extreme temperatures and drought and grows quickly, reaching 40 to 100 feet with a 15-foot spread. Mexican fan palms have compact, bright-green fronds.

Open Fences

• If you have an open, see-through fence, such as those made with slats or wire, choose palms with dense foliage and low canopies to increase privacy. The pindo palm (Butia capitata) has feathery gray-green fronds that curve downward. This bushy palm grows slowly from 10 to 20 feet tall. Pindo palms prefer partial shade to full sun and may need pruning to remove dead foliage. The Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) has fan-shaped blue- to gray-green fronds and grows in a bushy, multitrunked form. These palms reach heights of 15 feet and spread up to 20 feet wide.

Tall Fences

• For plantings along tall fences, choose large palms with high canopies. Trees with straight trunks create a dramatic sight when planted in a row along a tall fence. The gru-gru (Acrocomia totai) grows to 45 feet tall and has a straight, upright trunk covered with thorns. Gru-grus have feathery foliage and thrive in a variety of soil types. The Washington palm (Washingtonia filifera) grows 50 to 60 feet tall. It has a stiff, straight trunk and large, fan-shaped leaves and tolerates a range of site conditions. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) grows 50 to 60 feet tall, and it has a rough, slender trunk and feathery gray-green foliage. Date palms prefer partial shade to full sun and grow slowly.

Coastal Areas

• If your fence lies in a coastal area, choose palms that tolerate salt spray and saline soil. Though fences can provide a barrier between the palm and salt spray, coastal winds carry and deposit saline near beaches and shores. The cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) grows 30 to 60 feet tall and has a thick, dense trunk and large, fan-shaped fronds. This Florida native thrives in wet to dry sites and tolerates salt. The slender lady palm (Rhapis humilis) also tolerates salty sites. This slow-growing palm reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and has fan-shaped leaves. Slender ladies grow well in partially shaded sites with moist soil.