suggestions needed!

we tried a palmetto in this certain spot in our yard, but they just dont seem to like that spot! soooo.... i need a tree that can be planted in a big situation (it wasnt like that when we first moved in) that is reliably hardy in my zone that grows fast. it would be nice if it were evergreen, and tropical/exotic looking, but its not necessary. anyone have suggestions?? a more wet tolerant palm would be nice, also.

Butia capitatas don't seem to mind wet feet (at least in my yard they don't) and they grow so fast. I put a couple of seedlings from gallon pots along the outside edge of a day lily bed figuring I had years before they would shade the area. Wrong!!! Within 3 or 4 years they are close to full size. Can't even imagine what would have happened if I had planted larger ones to begin with.

Palmettos can be fussy when transplanted. Often they won't make it and there is no rhyme or reason to why that happens. So far there are no documented cases of the Palmetto disease that has decimated the Palmettos in west coast FL but since all of ours come from FL, who knows??????

well it also needs to be cheap to get a large one and i need something that will be able to be more high headed

If it's a little shady here's an idea. I was looking this tree over to plant in my yard but it's not a full sun tree and doesn't get that big. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1533/ Probably not going to do the trick. On the exotic side I think.

This one is cool but would take a long time to grow. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/482/

Here's another if you could find a bigger one. This fall I'm going to try and track down one of these ribbon palms or a couple of them. http://cgi.ebay.com/ROBUST-Ribbon-Fan-Palm-FLUTTERING-Leaf-LIVE-Plant-Tree_W0QQitemZ230092862731QQihZ013QQcategoryZ25463QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Maybe one of those will give you an idea.

I've got some (unkown sp.) Cassia's that will quickly develop into a 15'x15' yellow flowering specimen (September/October), evergreen. Growth habit more reminiscent of Vitex or Mesquite than the usual upright, conical form of Cassia grown here. But it's been winter-hardy here for 5 years, reliably flowers and produces viable seed, so it would definately survive in your area. Probably not the contour your'e looking for, but if you have any interest in a possible "sport", let me know. I have some pics of the thing, but have no idea how to send them (Analog man in a digital world!).

Stono, I have one of those evergreen Cassias too and I have never found out which variety it is.

Core, the Florida Anise grows like a shrub around here, sort of shaped like a Camellia. I have never seen one limbed up like a tree; it would be interesting to train a main stem and see what happens.

The Southeastern Palm book says the Ribbon Palm needs a bit of shade until it is established but what a cool looking palm that would be.

I like the Cassia idea stono. I'm growing these two that might be of interest. Good luck finding a large one of either of these.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/51550/index.html
Saw that one down in Orlando and figured I would give it a try. PF says 9b but people I've talked to in Cal said it's hardier than that. It seems to be used a street tree there. Last year I brought mine in when it looked like the temps were going under 32 but this year they're in the ground so we will see if they make it through the winter.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64960/
I got seeds for this from a DG'er named Don. He said he found it growing outside a oriental restaurant in Texas and this is cold hardy to 8b for sure, evergreen and flowers off and on all year even during the winter. ID not a 100% but looked like a good one to try out.

Alice in case you're wondering what I'm up to. I'm filling in around those tall pines I have in the back yard where the swing set is. The idea is to fill in the area with small evergreen trees with some sort of interest to them. Down the road I want that to be a heavily planted shade area. Probably going to put a fire pit in right where the swing set is now. The more tropical and exotic it looks the better

i like the cassia ideas.
i have one called cassia (senna) corymbosa, and i can easily get cassia bicapularis around here at a nursery
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1328/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60780/
what about tecoma stans?

I'm growing tecoma stans and the orange version of that. That's another one I got out of Texas.

Orange Esperanza is the same thing but orange flowers. Here's mine, not growing fast but I think it's lack of water. My tecoma stans are about 3 x the size but haven't gotten a flower yet.

does it take the winter well? and could it be grown in wet soil??

magnolia virginiana might be my best bet... http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2455/

Trent,
I have several Sweet Bay Magnolias at the back of my yard. They do seem to do best with light shade and a moist setting (sometimes a little boggy), but I occasionally see one in a drier area. They really are pretty when the breeze blows and the blooms smell citrusy (is that a word?) They're fairly inexpensive and faster growing than palms. Here they loose their leaves.

But I do love the ribbon palm! I had 2 in the Panhandle of FL and they did great even in full sun. Too cold for them here, but HHI would work.

I also find my Little Gem magnolias gow faster when I hit them with more water than most people. Mine have bloomed like crazy and still blooming like crazy. I like these since they stay green and I don't think they're too messy - no matter what others say.

Magnolia virginiana is a native and they're growing all over my neighborhood right next to the lagoons. The problem I have with them is they don't seem to fill out. They just don't get very dense but that could be becasue I only see them where they're crowded by other trees and don't get that much sun. I have no doubt that they like moist soil. They have a silver underside which looks nice when the wind is blowing. Blooms seem to be long lasting.

i love ribbon palms. we have 3 at our neighborhood pool house. but they are probably expensive. here the bay magnolias are evergreen because we have them in front of our neighborhood and i see them every day. the lack of fill-outage is not a problem i dont think... only elephant ears and agapanthus underneath it