Everything You Need To Know About All Types Of Palm Trees
Queen Palm Tree
Queen Palm Tree, scientific name Syagrus romanzoffiana, is one of the most popular palms in tropical and subtropical climates because of its beautiful appearance and low maintenance. This palm is also very inexpensive. Groupings of three or more Queen Palms provide soft filtered sunlight perfect for shade gardens. It is also worth mentioning, that the Queen Palm tree has a shallow root base and is known for falling during high winds and hurricanes. They are fairly cold hardy also for a palm tree.
Queen Palm Tree Info
Scientific name: Syagrus romanzoffiana
Common names: The Queen Palm is also known as Cocos Plumosa, and Jeriva Syagrus romanzoffiana.
Family: Arecaceae
Origin: It is native to the South American woodlands of Brazil and Argentina.
Appearance: Syagrus romanzoffiana has a smooth single trunk ringed with leaf scars and topped with dark green feathery fronds. Pinnate leaves grow upward more so than outward. The stem of the leaf is about 5 – 15ft long and has double rows of leaflets. Each leaflet blade is approximately 18 to 36 inches long.
Flowers/Fruits: During the summer months Queen Palm will surprise you with beautiful clusters of creamy flowers on a green stalk that grows underneath its leaves. In the early winter, a green fruit will appear that will turn orange as it matures. These fruits also called “dates”, have a round shape and are about 1 inch long with one single seed inside. The Queen Palm fruit smells nice but is not editable. When dates fall to the ground they create sticky piles of rotting fruit that attract disagreeable insects.
Growth Rate: Fast. With regular fertilization, Queen Palm can grow to a maximum height of about 30 – 40 ft and 5 -10 ft wide. It grows around 6 feet per year after establishment.
Outdoor/Indoor Use: Both.
Cold Tolerance: Syagrus romanzoffiana can tolerate cold down to 15F when mature enough. It is great for growing in USDA Zones 8b (15 to 20 F) to 11 (above 40 F).
Light Req: Partial shade to Full sun. Queen Palm grows very well in full sun although full sun with some shade is preferred.
Water Req: Moderate. Along with proper feeding, correct watering is critical for a healthy Queen Palm. Newly planted palms should be watered every day for the first week, every other day for the second week, and about 3 times a week afterward. Watering palm 3 times a week should be enough during the first summer and a minimum of twice a week in the winter.
Maintenance: Easy. Queen Palms should be fertilized with a fertilizer that contains the most important minerals including magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, and nitrogen. To prevent nutritional deficiency, apply good quality palm fertilizer that has continuous-release formula twice a year during the growing season.
Fertilizer: Queen Palm requires a lot of manganese for healthy growth, not to be confused with magnesium. So, even after applying the usual fertilizer that contains manganese, it’s a good idea to add more manganese to the soil. Manganese deficiency is responsible for the “frizzy top” that you can witness on many Florida Queen Palms. That’s because most homeowners don’t know how to fertilize Queen Palm Trees properly. If you don’t treat the “frizzy top” condition, your palm tree will get weaker and eventually die. Once you notice that some of the frizzy symptoms are developing, add more manganese to the soil.
Pruning: The Queen Palm needs very little pruning, mainly to develop a strong structure. The best time to prune the Queen Palm tree is from September to the beginning of November. You can remove old fronds that got damaged during the summer with a saw. Get rid of only a minimum amount of fronds that are yellow or brown. Excessive pruning can weaken the palm and slow its growth. If you have a tall Queen Palm, you might need a ladder to reach dry fronds. If you live in Florida, it’s easy to find a company that can do it for you.
Insects and Diseases: The only pests that cause problems for Queen Palms are Palm leaf skeletonizer and scale. For more details on pests and prevention read – Palm Tree Insects. Queen Palm has a problem with Ganoderma bud rot that can kill the palm. There is no cure for it. The only thing you can do is to use prevention treatments.
Propagation: Propagated by seeds. Seeds of Queen Palm germinate better if collected from the green fruit that hasn’t ripened yet. Try to plant as soon as possible, as a dried seed is much more difficult to propagate. If you can’t plant the seeds right away, you can store them. Before storing clean the seeds from the dust, air dry them, and seal them in a plastic bag. The best storage temperature is around 65F-75F. It’s not recommended to store Queen Palm seeds for more than 4 months.
Top 25 Reasons To Own A Queen Palm Tree
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Queen Palm trees add tropical aesthetics to any landscape.
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They are among the fastest-growing palms.
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Queen Palms are relatively easy to maintain.
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They can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F.
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These palms are resistant to pests and diseases.
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They provide wonderful shade during hot summer days.
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Queen Palms are known for their attractive, glossy, pinnate leaves.
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The tree's height, reaching up to 50 feet, creates a vibrant vertical effect in your landscape.
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It acts as a natural purifier, improving air quality.
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Queen Palms can increase property value.
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They produce beautiful, ornamental fruits.
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They are safe around children because they don't have thorns.
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Queen Palms are relatively affordable compared to other palm trees.
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They can be planted in containers, offering flexibility in landscape design.
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Queen Palms are non-invasive, and not likely to damage underground utilities.
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They can be used as a windbreak or visual screen.
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Their strong roots provide excellent soil stabilization.
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The tree's resilience allows it to thrive in various soil types.
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Due to its clean growth habit, it doesn't create much yard waste.
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It provides a habitat for various bird species.
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Queen Palms have a long lifespan, making them a lasting addition to your landscape.
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They offer year-round greenery.
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These palms are tolerant of urban pollution.
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They can be easily transplanted.
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Finally, owning a Queen Palm is an opportunity to contribute to biodiversity by owning a unique species of palm.