Plant lady palm in shade, in frost-free ground, at the same depth it sat in the pot. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a screen, and water through the first year.
Plant it in shade, in frost-free ground, at the same depth it sat in the pot
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring, once the ground is warm and nights stay mild | Do not plant into cold, wet ground, or just before a freeze |
| Site | Shade or partial shade, where the fans stay deep green | Do not plant a shade-grown nursery plant into baking full sun |
| Hole | As wide as the root ball, no deeper; set the crown at the same level it sat in the pot | Do not bury the canes or plant it in a low, soggy spot |
| Soil | Moist soil that drains; mix in compost if the ground is thin | Do not leave the clump in standing water |
Lady palm can live in the ground where frost stays away, as a shade shrub or a screen. It is a clustering fan palm first. Young plants scorch in full sun, so give it shade or morning sun, and buy a plant already grown in the light you can offer. [1] [2] Dig a hole as wide as the root ball and no deeper. Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil. Backfill with the native soil if it drains; add compost if the ground is poor. [3] In a cold climate, keep it in a pot you can move, and grow it indoors on How to Grow Lady Palm. [4]
- Pick a frost-free, shady site with soil that drains. Keep a young plant out of hot afternoon sun.
- Dig a hole as wide as the root ball and no deeper. Roughen the sides if the soil is packed.
- Slide the palm out of the pot. Keep the root ball together.
- Set it so the top of the root ball is level with the soil. Do not bury the canes.
- Backfill, water to settle, and mulch a few inches away from the canes, not against them.
Can I plant lady palm in full sun?
Only if the nursery grew it in sun. Most plants come from shade, and those fans bleach or burn if you drop them into hot afternoon sun. Shade or morning sun is the safer start.
Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a screen, and water through the first year
A hedge of lady palm fills in slowly. Set the pots about 3 to 4 feet apart so the clumps grow together without rotting in a tight wet mass. The first season is when the roots move into the surrounding soil, so keep the ground moist, not soggy, through that year.
- For a screen, space plants about 3 to 4 feet on center. You can plant closer to a fence or a wall because the clump spreads outward.
- Water deeply after planting, then again whenever the top few inches of soil dry.
- Keep that rhythm through the first growing season. Do not leave a saucer of water around the canes.
- Mulch to hold moisture, keeping the mulch a few inches off the canes.
- Leave the clump where you planted it. If you need a plant you can move, grow it in a pot instead.
Can I transplant an established lady palm?
It is a poor bet once the rhizomes have run. Pick the shade and the drain now, and leave the clump there.
If a new planting yellows, check shade and drain first: plant at the old soil line, keep the first year moist, and leave the clump in place.
FAQ
How far should I plant lady palm from the house?
It can sit close to a wall or a fence because it spreads outward from the clump. Leave room for the fans to open, and keep the soil from staying wet against the foundation.
What if my winters get below freezing?
Keep it in a pot and bring it in before nights stay near 50 F. In-ground planting is only for frost-free ground.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] UF/IFAS Extension -
https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP501 - [2] South Florida Plant Guide -
https://www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/lady-palm.html - [3] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/lady-palm/growing-lady-palms.htm - [4] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rhapis-excelsa/
This note is part of Rhapis Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors