I’m Kayla, and I’ve got sand in my shoes and palm bits in my hair. I’ve lived with Miami palms, sat under them, paid to trim them, and yes—dodged a coconut or two. They’re not just a “look.” They’re a whole mood… and sometimes, a little work.
For a wider sweep of what to see, sip, and snap around those same swaying palms, browse Miami For Visitors before you book your flight.
If you want an even deeper dive into these breezy beauties, you can flip through my expanded notes in this palm-packed breakdown.
What swept me off my feet
- Mornings on Lummus Park: I run by the beach and the coconut palms lean like they’re posing. The wind rattles the fronds—like soft claps. I slow down, every time.
- Royal palms on Coral Gables streets: tall, clean trunks; big green crowns. I took family photos under those. It felt fancy without trying.
- South Pointe Park at sunset: the palms frame the water. The light hits the crowns and everything glows. You know what? Even my phone made it look dreamy.
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: I learned the names. Foxtail. Bismarck. Sabal. I liked that I could say “frond” and not sound weird.
The shade is real. The vibe is bigger. They say Miami. And they say it fast.
What made me sigh (and scrub)
- Falling stuff: Seed pods drop. Date palms leave sticky bits. My car got spattered in Wynwood while I grabbed cafecito. Not cute.
- Coconuts: My cousin in Little Havana keeps a coconut palm in the yard. We paid a guy $180 cash to climb up and remove the nuts before hurricane season. Worth it. Those things fall hard.
- Storm mess: After a summer squall, fronds block the sidewalk. Once, a big one smacked the fence and scared my dog.
- Critters: Iguanas use the trunks like stairs. They don’t ask for permission.
So yes, beauty comes with cleanup. I keep a rake by the gate now.
Real moments that stuck with me
- I sat under a coconut palm at South Pointe Pier and got “thunked” by a dry frond. It didn’t hurt. It did make me scoot.
- On the Rickenbacker Causeway, salt spray hit my face while the palms leaned hard in the wind. I felt small in a good way.
- During Art Basel, Lincoln Road lined the palms with lights. We ate gelato on a bench and people-watched for an hour.
- I pressed a little palm leaflet in a book. It’s still there.
Craving palms with a side of hush-hush island calm? Sneak a peek at my laid-back getaway on Grove Isle for a totally different vibe.
If you love photos
- Best light: sunrise at Lummus Park; golden hour on Key Biscayne.
- Angles: shoot low so the crowns look huge. Tilt a bit for drama.
- Bring: water, a cloth for sweat, and a tiny patience. Palms move. That’s the magic.
If you’re planting at home (yep, I did)
I tried an Areca palm in a pot on my Brickell balcony. Light afternoon sun. I watered twice a week in summer, once a week in winter. It did fine until a windy front hit in March. I moved it inward, and it bounced back. Lesson: wind is a bully.
What I’ve learned the hard way:
- Coconut palms near cars? Nope. You’ll worry.
- Royal palms look grand, but you’ll pay to trim old fronds once or twice a year. I paid $120 for a mid-size clean-up in Westchester.
- Bismarck palms are gorgeous, silver, and bold. But the root ball grows wide. Not by your pool deck.
- Areca palms make a soft screen. Good for balconies; just don’t drown them.
- Miami is hot and salty. Pick palms that handle salt spray if you’re near the bay. (If you need ideas, check out this quick guide to the best palms for Florida coastal landscaping.)
I buy basics from Home Depot in Hialeah and soil from a small shop in Little Havana. If I want a big boy (like a 10-foot Royal), I call a nursery that delivers. Last quote I got: $450 delivered, $150 to plant. Prices swing with season and size.
P.S. — If you’re into teeny-tiny trees instead of towering ones, check out my hands-on day shaping bonsai in Miami to see how small can still be mighty.
Quick care cheats
- Trim brown fronds, not green ones. Green feeds the tree.
- Pull seed pods before they drop.
- Water deep, less often. Let the top soil dry a bit.
- For hurricanes: remove coconuts and loose pods. Tie up garden stuff; the palm can sway.
Who will love Miami palms
- Travelers who want that “I’m on vacation” feel before breakfast.
- Photo folks chasing clean lines and big skies.
- Kids who like to spot iguanas. Honestly, they always spot them first.
- Anyone who needs shade that looks like joy.
Pro tip: If the idea of strolling beneath moonlit palms sounds like the perfect first-date setting, you might want to check out this detailed Hinge review to see how the app’s clever prompts and location filters can help you line up a sun-soaked meet-cute in Miami. Need to break from swiping altogether and want something in-person? If you ever find yourself in Washington State, carve out an evening for speed dating in Spokane Valley—it’s a fun, curated way to meet several compatible singles face-to-face in under an hour.
Tiny gripes, big picture
Yes, they shed. Yes, a frond will scare you at 2 a.m. when it hits the roof. And, yeah, you’ll find seeds in your flip-flops. But when the breeze kicks in and the crowns shimmer, you forget the mess.
Verdict
I’d rate Miami palm trees 4.5 out of 5. They shape the skyline, cool the walk, and add rhythm to the city. A little work, a lot of wow. Would I plant more? I already did. And I’d sit under them again tomorrow—maybe not right under the coconuts, though.