Question
HELLO MARC....
WE ARE BUILDING A SMALL POOL 33X11 RECTANGLE
WITH ONLY 3 FEET WIDE AND 11 LONG  THIS AREA I WANT PRIVACY FROM MEAN AND NASTY NEIGHBORS..CAN I PUT KINGS HERE AND WHAT IS ROOT SYSTEM , WILL IT GROW AND BRANCH INTO POOL ///////?AND ANOTHER SECTION 3 FT W AND 50 FT LONG FOR LANDSCAPING AND AN AREA FPR TINY PATIO AREA ABOUT 10 FT X 10 FOR TABLE AND PLANTS,,,,WOW PRETTY SMALL BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT LOOK TROPICAL,,,,I LIVE IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA,,,I WANT PALMS TALL AND SHORT...AND PLANTS ....WHAT DO U RECOMMEND... I KNOW I HAVE TO START WITH THEM SMALL ...HOW FAR APART DO I PLANT....I NEED HELP,,,,,  THANK U THANK U
SUSIE

Answer
Susie -
Do you mean King Palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)?  Yes, you are in one of the rare areas that this tree will grow.  Up and down the California coast, inland to just before Alpine, and north on 15 to just past Fallbrook - and of course up through Irvine and the rest of Southern California... This palm will get 50 feet tall, but you can plant them as close as 15 feet apart.  It is a shallow, fibrous root, but is not particularly invasive.  Good for around pools, as the palms fall off neatly.  I

Its "cousin" palm is the Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum), and she is a little tougher than the King, able to withstand more abuse. Slight differences, but they look similar.

As far as your tiny patio are, there are lots of books available (I was just in Barnes & Noble last night looking), on small space planting design. Tons of sources & not that expensive.  Maybe that's why I get so many questions - too much information is out there!

In San Diego, you can also grow the very tropical-looking Sago Palms and even Bromeliads outdoors!  They are cousins to the Pineapple...can't get much more "tropical" than that.

As far as plants around pools, Sunset Western Garden book has two pages (with pictures) of plants listed as appropriate for around a pool - too many for this small space...check it out at the book store or local library.  It has a narrative of all  sorts of varieties, under the heading "palms" (page 398 in my older version), complete with spacing, planting options, and uses - even as ground covers!

Check with your local nursery about fern options, as there are just too many to list for the very moderate San Diego Climate. Just about anything you can pick up there will grow just fine...that抯 why there are a lot of growers down there!

Regards -
Marc