Frost free makes a great Howea..along with rain all year. You have a more forgiving climate then mine. You ever try the A.alexandrae? Tree ferns?
I just today- by coincidence cut down an Avocado that just didn't have good enough fruit..plus small with a big pit.It all combined into a waste of space. It gave tiny Avocado's. Funny- but the last tree I had Ben,I grew from seed and it bore huge delicious Avocados..then died from some root disease. Killed another across the street. More sun for the Mango.
My Mexican Papaya grew for three years- had fruit on it. Then this rainy winter caused it to drop the leaves. Still,it looked good right? Well,with no leaves it was just a 4' pole. One nigh,slugs or rats,ate the now exposed green stem. Now I know- if the Papaya drops leaves..protect the stems from rodents or snails.
I still have two Ficus left. Both in pots..both have since rooted into the ground...they look like Magnolia grandiflora's with trunk roots. One is MUCH more rootish then the other. I still have to get around to the "cover with moss and wrap" to get better banyoning. One,I want to donate to a local exotic tree park. My legacy
You're 1000mm = our 40 inches. That's more than double Hayward's average. Plus 100% of ours is short day rains. Winter mostly.