And how to avoid them
Palms can instantly transform your home into a tropical paradise, but choosing the right ones takes more than just falling in love with their looks. At Iguana Palms, we’ve helped countless homeowners fix costly mistakes- from buying tropical palms that won’t survive in their climate, to planting them incorrectly without proper guidance.
The good news is these mistakes are avoidable, and with the right knowledge, a little expert advice and palms sourced from a reputable grower who stand behind the quality of the product.
Here are the five most common mistakes people make when buying palms, and how to avoid them:
1. Buying a Palm that isn’t for your grow zone
Not every palm thrives everywhere. Some love tropical heat, while others are built to survive cold snaps. Choosing a palm unsuited to your USDA grow zone is one of the quickest ways to lose your palm tree investment.
Example: A Royal Palm may look beautiful planted in the ground in Florida, but when planted in Northern Georgia, it won’t make it through the first winter. On the other hand, a Pindo Palm would give you a similar vibe and also thrive in cooler climates.
PRO TIP: At Iguana Palms, we warranty the palms sell, deliver and install which means we will never sell you a tree that wont survive in your zone.
2. Choosing palms based on looks alone
A glossy, green palm might look perfect as soon as it is planted on site, that is, until it gets too tall and outgrows the space, drops messy fruit, or requires constant maintenance that you weren’t prepared for. Without considering growth habits and upkeep, you could be setting yourself up for frustration.
Placement is another critical factor- choosing the wrong spot can create long term problems that are expensive to fix later. Sometimes, it is best to get the opinion of a landscape designer before making big decisions.
Example: You fall in love with a 6ft Windmill Palm at a local nursery and plant it right outside our yard. A few years later, you realize it has grown directly into the power lines. Now you have to remove or relocate the palm, which is both tedious and expensive.
3. Buying small sized palms to “save money”- but spending more later
Smaller, younger plants can seem like a budget-friendly option and are often available in home-improvement stores or online-sometimes even shipped directly to your door. But unless your goal is to plant miniature palms intentionally, this can be a costly mistake.
- Cold-hardy palms are slow growers, meaning it may take decades before they create the impact and look you want.
- Young palms are more vulnerable to cold damage, pests, and transport shock- even in the correct grow zone.
- Many homeowners end up replacing small palms before they ever reach their full, mature size.
Our advice? Go big! Buy the largest palm your budget allows. Mature palms not only look better, they also establish faster and survive more reliably.
PRO TIP: At iguana Palms, we don’t sell small palms. Every tree we sell is a minimum 3-4feet tall. They are hand selected from our fields so you get the size and quality you pay for.
4. Buying from a reseller
Not all palms are grown with the same care. Big box stores, online retailers, and general resellers often source they palms from unknown suppliers which can lead to serious issues such as:
- Hidden diseases that spread to other plants in the yard
- Weak or damaged root systems that make them take longer to get established
- Poor acclimatization to your local climate if the palms were grown elsewhere.
When purchasing a palm, it is always best to buy directly from a reputable grower- ideally one in a climate similar to yours, ensuring the palms are already adapted to local conditions.
PRO TIP: Iguana Palms is the northernmost palm tree farm in all of Florida, meaning the palms that you receive have been pre-acclimatized to cool weather and mild winters. This ensures strong, resilient palm trees.
5. Underestimating expert installation & long term care
Even the healthiest, highest quality palm tree can fail if it is planted incorrectly or neglected after installation. Proper care is essential from day one, including:
- Correct placement for sun exposure
- Soil preparation and proper drainage
- Staking and support when necessary
- Consistent watering schedule during establishment
PRO TIP: Iguana Palms offers delivery, professional installation and warranty on all our palms. We even provide complimentary design consultations to help you visualize the placement of your palms before planting, and we provide maintenance service as well as long term guidance and support.
Bottom Line
Palms add instant beauty and value to your property- but only when they are chosen, sourced, and planted correctly. Working with a landscape designer and buying from a reputable grower like Iguana Palms saves you from expensive mistakes and ensures your landscape will flourish for years to come.
At Iguana Palms, we don’t just sell palms- we design, deliver, install and warranty our palm trees. When you work with us, you get a palm tree of the highest quality available. From our family farm, to your home.
