Help identifying plant
 

New Floridian and we have this plant in the front yard. Trying to identify what it is so I can research how it is supposed to be pruned and maintained. Any help is welcomed.

11 Types of Palm Trees in Florida


My guess no 7 or maybe 10 windmill palms?

Looks like a fan palm. These things can quickly take over a garden and require a lot of work if you want to keep them under control. After a few years of fighting the one in our garden we decided to get rid of it, which required some ingenuity. After trying to dig it up, we quickly realized the root system was too deeply imbedded in the ground to get it out by hand. After digging around the trunk and roots, we put a tow strap around it that tightened like a noose. We then attached the other end of the strap to the trailer hitch on my truck and I attempted to yank it out of the ground with the truck. The tires on the truck spun and I couldn’t yank it out of the ground. After putting the truck into 4 wheel drive low, I was finally able to yank the dam thing out. It took a lot of dirt to fill in the hole it left. We now have large ceramic flower pots in the garden as we learned they are much easier to care for and it makes controlling the weeds in the garden much easier.

I would not try this method for removing a tree, LOL. Sounds like a hold my beer story that while it ended in a safe way might not have.

Looks like a European fan palm (chamaerops humilis). If so, it's a hardy, well behaved, relatively small palm.

Looks like a European fan palm. This palm is often planted in the front yards of new houses. Mine is 12 years old and I keep it about 6-7 feet high. It can have multiple trunks and I try to keep it to 3 and then when the tallest trunk hides my front post I cut it down to the ground and select another trunk to take the #3 spot. It is a slow growing and it is also a very healthy palm needing minimal care.

Thanks. I am worried that it could get too large. Like you, ours is close to the lamp post (just cant see from this angle) and with so many "shoots" it might
get too wide.

I agree it looks like a European Fan Palm. The research i’ve done shows they will have a mature height of 15’ tall and 10’ wide. They are not difficult to maintain.

Very easy to maintain. We have one that's been by our lightpost for over 8 years now and it's never been a problem. Give it a little trim once a year, needs no other care.

This is totally something that I would do, lol.

It's a European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis). Prune the lower fronds when they turn brown. They are cold hardy and easy to maintain.

Looks like my queen palm.

Just stay away from the Sago (Coontie) palm ...as they are very toxic.
 

There are a lot of toxic plants, animals, and chemicals in FL. So be careful! Sago/coontie is sold at the big box stores with no warnings. The root, shoot, and red (gummie bear sized) kernels that your grandchildren and pets will want to eat are poisonous.

No, It Isn't!
 

Free plant ID and care apps available
 

Several free plant identification apps are available for iOS and Android devices. PictureThis and PlantNet are popular choices known for their accuracy and ease of use. iNaturalist, LeafSnap, Flora Incognita, and Garden Answers are other free options offering plant identification and care tips.

Just a guess, but maybe it's a European Fan Palm...

My guess? It is a palm…which reminds me if you got dead palm only take about 14 months for it to fall over and about two years for root bulb to rot away.

Get a free trial of the “Picture this” app
 

Take a picture of any tree or plant it will identify it, give an opinion of how healthy it is, tell you where it will survive and how to care for it You will probably decide it’s worth $16/year to keep it on your phone

Google Lens
 

For future reference, you can search the picture in Google Lens and it will tell you what it is with a fair amount of accuracy.

You don’t need to buy any apps ….Google Lens is free.

Try it, you’ll like it ! 😊

Had 3 of these at my previous home ( in The Villages), one just died a year after it was planted ( pulled it out), the other two were along side the house and did very well ! They took constant trimming. Needed gloves when trimming and handling the frames. Only trim BOTTOM draws only, and never trim top frawns!

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You can always use google lens or plant finder app to identify plants in Florida.
Jim
Jim's Golf Clinic

I guess you missed post #20

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