I bought my traveler’s palm on a sticky July morning in Miami. It sat in a 15-gallon pot at a small nursery off Bird Road, all fan and drama. I’d seen these at beach hotels and thought, why not bring that “vacation” look home? You know what? I was half right and half wrong. Let me explain.
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First look: big fan energy
It looks like a palm, but it’s not a true palm. It’s more like a cousin to bananas and bird of paradise. The leaves sit in a wide fan, like a giant hand saying hello. Mine stood about 7 feet tall when I rolled it to the truck. The fan was already five feet across. My neighbor said, “That thing’s a peacock.” He wasn’t wrong.
The price? $129, plus a free lecture from the cashier about space. “Give it room,” she said. I nodded. I did not give it enough room.
Planting day chaos (and a small whoops)
I set it along the side yard, about 8 feet from the house and 5 feet from a fence. I dug a wide hole, twice the pot, and mixed in compost. The roots looked thick but not scary. I watered deep until the soil settled and stopped bubbling. Little tip—if the soil burps, it’s not done drinking. If you want a textbook outline instead of my chaos, this how-to on growing Traveler’s Palm breaks it down.
Then I noticed standing water in the leaf bases. That’s normal. These leaves hold rain. Folks say travelers once drank from them. I don’t drink yard water, but still—fun story. It reminded me of the scent of dust after a monsoon in the Southwest, the same earthy note I wrote about in this New Mexico travel art piece.
How it behaved that first year
- Sun: Full sun from noon to sunset. Leaves got a bit crispy the first month. New leaves came in fresh and glossy after.
- Water: Heavy thirst. Mine liked a long soak twice a week in summer. In winter, once a week was plenty, unless a dry front rolled in.
- Food: I fed it PalmGain 8-2-12 in March, June, and September. Slow and steady. No burn.
- Wind: Here’s the kicker—wind shreds those big leaves. A tropical storm skimmed us in August. The leaves looked like fringe skirts the next day. I trimmed the worst tears with bypass loppers. It bounced back, but it did look wild for a while.
- Cold: We hit 45°F one night. No major damage, just a little browning on the tips. If you get frost, this plant may sulk hard. If cooler weather has you craving a getaway, take a peek at my favorite places to visit in November for ideas that stay warm and sunny.
Real moments that sold me (and a few that didn’t)
One morning I found a pair of doves tucked in the leaf bases, hiding from the heat. Sweet. Another time, after a week of rain, I noticed mosquito larvae wiggling in the water trapped in those same leaf pockets. Not sweet. I now flush those out with a hose after big storms. Problem solved.
Kids love this plant. My niece called it “the big fan tree” and hid behind it during tag. It really does frame a yard like a stage. The fan points east-west, which looks cool at sunset. The light hits it, and it glows.
But it also grew. A lot. By the next summer, it shot to about 12 feet tall with a fan almost 10 feet wide. It started to lean toward the sun. I had to cut a small areca palm that was crowding it. The traveler’s palm won the land grab.
Not really indoor-friendly (unless your living room is a lobby)
I tried keeping a smaller one in a 24-inch pot on my covered patio. It lasted a year. Growth slowed. Leaves got smaller and a bit sad. It wanted sky. If you’re thinking “window plant,” no. If you’re thinking “poolside statement,” yes, if you have the space and no picky HOA.
What I loved
- That instant tropical “wow.” It’s the backdrop, the photo wall, the main character.
- Fast growth once it settles in. Mine put out a new leaf about every 3 to 4 weeks in summer.
- It handled heat like a champ. Full Miami sun. No problem after it hardened up.
- Low fuss on soil. Regular, well-drained yard soil worked fine with mulch and a hose.
What bugged me
- Wind tears. It will look perfect on Monday and ragged by Friday if a storm passes.
- Messy leaf bases. Old ones dry out and hang. You’ll prune. Wear gloves; the edges can be sharp.
- Space issues. The root base gets big. Don’t plant near a wall, septic, or tiny path. My pavers shifted a touch after year two—nothing extreme, but I noticed.
- Water pockets can draw mosquitoes. A quick flush fixes it, but you need to stay on it in rainy season.
Quick care notes that actually helped
- Space: Give it 10 feet from walls and 6 feet from fences, more if you can.
- Water: Deep soak twice a week in summer, once a week in winter. Let the top few inches dry between.
- Food: Palm fertilizer three times a year. I used PalmGain, but Osmocote worked too.
- Trim: Cut old, brown leaves close to the base with sharp loppers. Don’t hack the stem.
- Wind: If you’re in a gusty spot, plant near a windbreak, like a hedge. It won’t stop all tears, but it helps.
A tiny myth check, because people ask
Does it really point travelers in the right direction? Kind of. The fan tends to face east-west, which looks neat. But don’t toss your compass. Mine faced the street, then shifted a bit as it chased sun.
And does it store drinking water? Yes, the leaf bases hold rain. It’s not clean water, though. Birds use it. Bugs use it. I use the hose.
A year later: the good, the rough, and the real
Twelve months in, I had a showpiece. It made the house look like a resort. Family photos in front of it? Gorgeous. Pool parties? Everyone asked about “the big fan.” If the laid-back, tropical backdrop ends up sparking a little flirtation and you want to be prepared for the next step, swing by this practical breakdown of modern sex hookups for straightforward advice on staying safe, respectful, and confident when chemistry strikes.
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Who should get this plant
- You live warm (South Florida, SoCal, coastal Texas, Hawaii) and have room.
- You want “tropical” fast and don’t mind leaf cleanup.
- You like bold plants that feel like a set piece.
Who should skip it?
- Small yards with tight walkways.
- Frost-heavy areas (unless you go container and treat it like a summer fling).
- Folks who want tidy, formal lines year-round.
Final take
I give my traveler’s palm an 8.5/10. You can read the expanded version of my honest truth about growing a traveler’s palm if you want even more gritty details. Big love for the look, the speed, and the drama. Points off for wind tears and the space it claims. Would I plant it again? Yep—just not near a path or a tight corner. It wants a stage. Give it one, and it’ll steal the show.
If you plant it, one last tip: mulch the base, set a wide watering ring, and snap a photo every month. Watching that fan grow is half the fun. And if you hear someone say, “What is that?”—that’ll be your sign it’s doing its job.