Mississippi Climate Conditions 

Here in Mississippi, we have what’s known as a humid subtropical climate. With our short, mild winters, and hot, humid summers, palms are built to thrive here! Pass Christian falls into USDA hardiness zone 9a; lucky for us, most palms thrive within this range. Here are the best palms for the great Mississippi outdoors. 

Palms that Can Grow Outside in Mississippi 

Palmetto Palm Tree

With distinctive large blue green leaves, the palmetto palm will stand out in your Mississippi backyard. Also known as the “cabbage palm”, this palm variety is drought tolerant and thrives in full sun conditions. Plant your palmetto palm in a location where it will receive at least four to six hours of direct sunlight each day. Too much shade, and you may end up with a leggy palm plant! 

Sago Palm Tree 

Okay, the sago isn’t technically a palm tree, but its name and appearance might fool you! Sago palms belong to the cycad family but are just as tropical, gorgeous, and lush as true palm plants. The sago’s compact size and explosion of foliage make it an ideal specimen plant to showcase front-and-center in your landscape. Caution is always best when caring for your sago palm tree, as the foliage may cause skin irritation when touched or make you sick if ingested. Wear gloves, eye protection, and long sleeves when handling and keep kids and pets at bay!

Pindo Palm Tree

This singular-trunked palm tree variety is a showstopper in the garden with its bright, glossy, gorgeous foliage and jelly palm fruits. These gorgeous palms can tolerate practically any soil conditions you throw at them, and can even thrive in dry soil. If you really want to take care of your pindo palm, you can purchase a soil mixture made specifically for palms! Place your pindo in a nice full sun or partially shaded area of your yard. 

Windmill Palm Tree 

The windmill palm is famous for its gorgeous fan-shaped leaves that work to cool the plant off in hot temperatures. The leaves are so large, some more than three feet in length, they’re sure to make a statement in your backyard space! It is necessary to water windmill palms regularly because they do best in moist soils. These palms prefer shade rather than too much sun, so choose a more protected area of your yard for planting. 

Chinese Fan Palm

In Mississippi, this palm grows exceptionally well outside, but is adored as an indoor houseplant as well. Chinese fan palm trees are slow-growing and have a bushy appearance when they are young. Since this palm can easily tolerate Mississippi’s climate, we recommend growing it outside for a gorgeous, thriving palm tree!

Indoor Palms for Mississippi 

Areca Palm

Areca palms are humidity lovers—a perfect match for Mississippi! The areca palm thrives with bright light exposure from a south- or west-facing window and should be watered deeply every time the soil dries out. 

Majesty Palm 

These fascinating palm plants will steal the show in your living room! When grown indoors, this aptly-named beauty thrives in full indirect sunlight conditions and should receive up to six hours of sunlight per day. Water your majesty palm every 1-2 weeks, and prune any dead or damaged growth as needed. This will keep your plant looking “majestic” with its lush green foliage and wind-frond shape.

Indoors or outdoors, palms are rich in character and visual appeal. These palm trees will surely add a laid-back vibe to your living spaces, either under the sun or beside a bright window. For more information on incorporating palms into your indoor space and outdoor landscape, as well as how to care for your palm, visit us at Pine Hills Nursery in Pass Christian, Mississippi today!