5 Small Palm Trees for Indoor Decor

If you are a Florida business looking to beautify your decor with green plants, palm trees are a natural choice. After all, these iconic plants have come to be synonymous with our beach lifestyle – and are especially welcoming to visitors and new arrivals to the Sunshine State. Therefore, while adding palms to your corporate offices is always a great strategy, those who run airports, hotels, and businesses that cater to tourists may be especially interested in displaying this particular plant family.

But wait – aren’t palm trees too large for interior decor?

Small Palm Trees for Interior Design

Exotic palms are subtropical plants that are typically no-fuss and easy to maintain. Most prefer full sun to indirect bright sunlight, but some varieties will thrive in partial shade or low-light rooms. A humid climate such as ours here on the Gulf Coast is ideal as well.

But when selecting indoor palms, size is a determining factor. If your building has a soaring atrium, virtually any type of palm will look amazing. But if you want palm trees to deliver a tropical vibe without overtaking the space, dwarf or small to medium palm varieties are available. Here are just a few:

1. Sago Palm: This exotic ornamental is related to cone-bearing conifers, and you will notice the resemblance in its dark green feathery leaves. Sago palms can grow between 3 to 5 feet in pots, and fronds reach outwards up to 4 feet from the base of the stem. With the right growing conditions, mature plants bloom approximately every three years. Caveat: Sago palms can be toxic if ingested, so they may not be the best choice in buildings frequented by children or animals.
2. Needle Palm: Growing in clumps with thorns at the base of the stems, the needle palm has an appropriate name. Shiny light green leaves display fan-shaped fronds, and tiny yellow flowers bloom in the spring. Needle palms grow rapidly, reaching 6 feet tall and up to 12 feet wide. The needle palm is an excellent option for an indoor potted plant because it can adapt to be reasonably tolerant of drought and low-light conditions.
3. Parlor Palm: The vibrant, ethereal green fronds of this quintessential indoor tree infuse the tropical atmosphere with very little required maintenance. Growing between 2 to 6 feet, the clumping parlor palm is tolerant of indoor low-light conditions, although it does like humid air and moist soil. Originating in the rainforest, the tropical parlor palm is often displayed with flowering plants and trees.
4. Pygmy Date Palm: If you want a quintessential palm tree vibe indoors, the stout, slow-growing Pygmy date palm is an excellent choice. Pygmy date palms grow between 4 to 8 feet tall, depending on the size of their container – but their bright green, pinnate leaves form an arching canopy with spring-blooming yellow flowers and tiny, purple dates. Pygmy date palms are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world.
5. Dwarf Majesty Palm: The elegant green fronds of the dwarf majesty palm fit well into lobbies and atriums, reaching between 5 and 9 feet at maturity. Plumed, overreaching fronds extend from the stem, creating a breezy canopy overhead. However, be warned—the tree does not fare well when positioned in drafty locations where temperatures fluctuate throughout the day.

Plant Leasing Allows You to Create Your Own Oasis

In addition to the varieties listed above, there are many other palm varieties that are small enough to be installed indoors or as corporate decor – including the lady palm, the baby queen palm, and the Mediterranean Fan Palm. How can you choose which plant will look the best in your place of business?

Plant leasing services offer the knowledge and expertise of botanists and horticulturalists who can assess your space, listen to your vision, and recommend the best plants to achieve the aesthetic you have in mind. Once installed, these same experts will nurture and maintain your plants and trees to ensure they remain healthy and beautiful. We know you will love the result, but should you ever wish to try a new variety or change the display for the holidays, plants can easily be switched out.

Whether you are responsible for maintaining a corporate office, an airport terminal, or a luxury hotel – installing green plants and trees makes a significant impact. Read more here about how plants improve employee morale and generate customer loyalty. Then give Tropex a call for a consultation.