[flamilak]

My husband & I are looking to give ourselves a little privacy behind our lanai which is about 15 feet (more or less) from our neighbor’s lanai. They have shades but we are thinking along the lines of a small palm tree. We were thinking of a fan palm but landscaper suggested the 3-trunk palm tree.
Any suggestions or ideas? Thanks

[Keefelane66]

Dwarf Sugar palm
Arenga Palm

[villagetinker]

IMHO, I think there are hedges that would be much more suitable for privacy, but another alternative would be shades inside your lanai, we did this several years ago and works very well (no watering or trimming required).

[LuvNH]

We used bottle brush. Let it grow as thick and tall as you want for privacy. Cut it back whenever you want, great landscaping bush.

[njbchbum]

Whatever you decide - be aware of your easements and don't plant in them - and since you are adding to existing landscaping, check with ARC to find out if you need its approval to plant.

If you choose to go with the palm - be sure it will be happy in your climate zone.

[JohnN]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

Dwarf Sugar palm
Arenga Palm

We have a sugar palm and that works great. Lots of low leaves, easy maintenance, hardy.

[Worldseries27]

Lots of good answers. Suggest you two take a drive around established areas and take pics of various patterns to help with your decision

[Remembergoldenrule]

First make sure you have ARC approval and good tap measure and think about maturity size You don’t want to have to take down once mature because it is over property lines.
I suggest Podocarpus and or blinds. Don’t plant anything that when it is mature will be up against your screen because hard to maintain, block breezes, and make you feel closed in.
Drive around older sections and see what you like when plant is mature.
Bottle bushes draw bees.

[Skunky1]

Bamboo

[kenpoboy]

Bamboo is an invasive species and bottle brushes are a nightmare if you decide to change to a different type of foliage. A hedge is always easy and can be shaped anyway you like…..holy, etc….

[bowlingal]

Kenpoboy...bamboo has two types...invasive and clumping. Clumping does not spread and stays put. Invasive spreads all over and I think is not available here and not allowed to be planted. There are many common areas that have clumping bamboo here, just take a look around. It does offer lots of privacy.

[Radamo]

We are also reviewing options for something similar. The only thing to keep in mind with shades is that they will also restrict some air flow. I prefer a nice breeze when it is available.

Originally Posted by villagetinker

IMHO, I think there are hedges that would be much more suitable for privacy, but another alternative would be shades inside your lanai, we did this several years ago and works very well (no watering or trimming required).

Agree! Depending where the houses are located, last year the couple of the 30 degree heavy frost freezes we had plus the lack of rain has many of the rhobolini palms in the south of 44 in the DeLuna area looking like they are on death's door. They do come back but VERY slowly.

I have noticed that the bottle brush trees were not hit at all by the freezes. I do LOVE myrhobolini palms. Mine is three trunk but I would take me 2 hrs to wrap it before every frost.

I had decided if it were to ever get severly frost bit I would put in a bottlebrush tree as much less worry. The idea of no maintenance, no worry is an option I would for sure consider though, especially if I were a snowbird.

[rjn5656]

Not my favorite plant, bottle brush would do. In my previous house, my neighbor put in a row between our 2 houses. They grew to about 15 feet by the time I moved. Provided good privacy.

[LoisH]

We just put in our 4th mule palm. Depending how you keep it trimmed, it can grow 10 feet wide. It is cold tolerant. Attached a link with good photos. Bought ours for $185 at Lowes —we were able to carry it and plant it ourselves —it was taller than the courtyard wall and many fronds.

Mule Palm | Liberty Landscape Supply