Question
Hi, Can you recommend a palm? The location is very well lit , between a west and north window. I want a palm between 4 and 7 feet tall, and a type that is reliable with proper care. Or, if you prefer, what are the palms to avoid?   Thanks

Answer
Bill,

My personal choices would be a bamboo palm or a parlor palm but here is a list of good palms and bad ones.

Bamboo palm
Chamaedorea seifrizii is a multitrunk palm that grows 8-10 feet tall and 5-7 feet wide, making it a good screening plant. Bamboo palm grows best in shade but tolerates brighter light if gradually acclimated to sunny conditions. It is often grown as a houseplant. Zones 10-11

Cauqui palm
Chamaedorea oblongata forms a single trunk and grows best in heavy shade. It grows 8-10 feet tall and only 3-4 feet wide. Cauqui palm hates dry soil, so keep it moist at all times. It looks best with other low-growing shade plants. Zones 10-11

Dwarf bamboo palm
Chamaedorea radicalis is slightly smaller than regular bamboo palm. It grows 4-6 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide with a single trunk, so it's not ideal for screening. But it is hardier (to 25 degrees F#, making it better adapted to slightly cooler regions. Zones 9-11

Hardy bamboo palm
Chamaedorea microspadix is the hardiest of the bamboo palms #to 23 degrees F). It is a clumping palm with stems reaching 8-12 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. Its leaves are dark green and have a silvery cast. Grow it in heavy to moderate shade. Zones 9-11

Miniature fishtail palm
Chamaedorea metallica is a small shade-tolerant palm suited as a groundcover when grown in a large grouping. The deep bluish-green leaves are splashed with silver, providing the plant with a metallic sheen. Miniature fishtail palm grows 4-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. Zones 10-11

Pacaya palm
Chamaedorea tepejilote is a giant among bamboo palms. This tree grows 10-20 feet tall and 5-20 feet wide. It is a fast grower when given the conditions it prefers -- heavy to moderate shade and evenly moist soil. Zones 10-11

Parlor palm
Chamaedorea elegans may be better known as a houseplant than as a landscape plant. It has been popular for indoor use since Victorian times. In the landscape, it grows 5-8 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. Shade is essential: The foliage may burn and the plant decline if given too much sun. Zones 10-11

Velvet palm
Chamaedorea adscendens is named for the velvety appearance of its bluish-green leaves. It grows only 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide, and it makes an excellent groundcover for moderate to heavy shade. Zones 10-11

I abslutely do not reccommend Cat palm
Chamaedorea cataractarum is a mounded multistem palm that grows 6-8 feet tall and wide. It's native to Mexico, where it grows along streams and rivers, so it prefers moist soil. Cat palm grows well in full sun or moderate shade. Zones 10-11
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Majesty palms and Areca Palms are also difficult to grow. The following article has a lot of info on palm care and good and bad palms.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/303/

Good luck!

Darlene