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YourHub.com \\ Vero Beach \\ Stories \\ Gardening

Busy Bee's Chris Burgr On Palms

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Contributed by: Tina Nelson on 9/7/2008

What Are They, Why Would I Want One And How Do I Care For Them?
Palms often inspire thoughts and daydreams of the tropics. Especially, for those of us who have immigrated to this great state, wether, it is year round or seasonally. I myself, remember being a high school junior in Minnesota, sitting in Math class doodling pictures of coconut palms in my notebook. Those days, I dreamed of moving to a warmer climate and leaving the snow and ice far behind me. A number of years ago I realized my dream and moved to Indian River County. Coming to the state rekindled my memories of doodling palm trees all those years ago. With those memories came a new and intense interest in palms, coupled with many questions. How many species are there? Which ones will grow in my yard? Where do I get them? Are they difficult to care for?

Answers came for many different sources, the internet, botanical gardens, books, the Central Florida Palm and Cycad Society and last but certainly not least, my present employer Busy Bee Lawn & Garden Center. First thing I had learned is that a palm trees are not trees at all. Yes, that is correct, they are not even trees. If not a tree, what then is a palm? It actually falls into a broad class of plants that make it more similar to grasses than to trees. Therefore, outside of appearance, palms have more in common with your turf than with your oak tree. Oh, and yes, our state tree, the cabbage palm is not a tree at all.

Just how many species of palms are there? A round figure estimate is 3000. Now, not all of them will grow here, but there is certainly a large number that will. Why not all 3000? While we often think of our climate as tropical, we actually sit in a transition zone between warm temperate and cool subtropical climate. Therefore, palms requiring a truly tropical climate will not survive our occasional frosts and subfreezing temps. Some of these tropical palms cannot even survive temperatures below 50 degrees F. Also, of no surprise to any resident, we are in a humid zone, and some palms are best suited to drier, Mediterranean type climates. However, there are a great many species that are well suited for our sometimes difficult environment. Frost, freezes, wind, salt and drought are no match for some of them.

Are palms native to Florida or were they introduce from other more exotic locales? There are indeed eleven native species. This is more than any other state except for Hawaii. Unfortunately, few are typically offered forsale at most nurseries. Except for the Royal Palm(Roystonea regia), our natives tend to be slow growing and not grown in favor of the more common and faster growing non-natives.

Choosing a palm first requires proper site evaluation and selection. Palms, unlike trees, develop their canopy first, then the trunk. The implication of this is that a pre-trunking palm will gain the majority of its horizontal spread before it starts its vertical journey upwards. The implications of this are that the palm will cover more ground as a juvenile than it will as an actively growing adult with a trunk. Also, palms do not get "X" feet tall and stop growing. They are always growing and they have only one direction to go, up. Rather than height, a more appropriate concern is growth rate. Though our native Silver Palm (Coccothrinaz argentata)may reach a height of 20 plus feet, it will take decades to reach and only if it is a lucky individual. Therefore, a Silver Palm will remain a small palm in the landscape for a very long time. Another consideration, is that palms cannot be pruned to maintain a certain height as you would a shrub. Pruning in such a manner results in death of the palm. Only its roots and its terminal bud contain growing tissue. The stem, though comprised of living tissue, cannot grow or regenerate damaged tissue.This also demands caution when trimming around your palms. Damage to the trunk can cause a wound that will not repair itself and may leave the palm vulnerable to disease. Now, for some exceptions to the general information just given. Some species of palm reach a terminal height and then die. An example would be the Fishtail Palm (Caryota mitis). It will reach a height of approximately 20 feet, flower, then die. Not to worry though,as a clustering species the other stems will carry on. Clustering species, as the Fishtail and Areca Palms (Dypsis lutescens) can be maintained at a certain maximum height by removing the stems that have grown too tall. Again, as with the Fishtail the younger stems will survive and continue to grow. Also, take into consideration, the amount of light, typical soil moisture, salt tolerance and ease of care. Not all palms are created equal, and a local nursery/lawn and garden center such as Busy Bee can help you make the right choice, for whatever your situation requires.

Now, why would anyone want one of these plants that look so foreign to those of us who have moved here from cooler climates? Palms most certainly add that tropical look to your landscape and will always remind you of the paradise you now call home. Also, palms have several functions in the landscape. Some can be utilitarian as well as beautiful. They can provide screening for privacy, while doubly serving as a wind break. Many provide a habitat and food for birds and other wildlife. Many palms are also low maintenance. Some are highly drought tolerant and need no supplemental irrigation. Others need no pruning. As a matter of fact,all palms will shed their fronds if given the opportunity. It's just that some of people would rather remove dead fronds than to wait for nature to take its course. While all palms will look their best with regular fertilization, some can survive with minimal fertilizer applications. Hurricanes are also no match for many of the commonly available palms. With a few exceptions, palms withstand hurricane force winds with ease. Finally, my fascination with palms is the diversity. Some are tall, some are short, some cluster, others are solitary, fronds can be large and bold or small and delicate, a select few even have color. Whatever statement you are trying to make there is likely a palm to suit your fancy.

Once you have chosen to add a palm to your landscape, be sure to consult a professional on selecting one that meets your specific needs. Ask about fertilization, water requirements, cold hardiness, growth rate, spread and spacing, light requirements and whether or not salt will be a factor, finally, how to plant and establish. Planting and proper establishment are the most critical factors in your success with adding a palm to your landscape. Planting at the proper depth, eliminating air pockets, providing supplemental irrigation during the first month to a year, proper handling of the root ball are all necessary components to planting a palm.

Hopefully, I have convinced you that palms make a great addition to any homeowner's yard. Also, I hope to have impressed upon you that there are far more choices available than the half a dozen or so species that you may see in your neighborhood and the choice takes careful consideration. So get out there, and plant a palm, and enjoy your yard. Article written by Chris Burgr.

For more information, come and speak with Chris or any of our knowledgeable Busy Bee staff. Visit us at the nursery at 7445 N US 1 Vero Beach, Florida 32967. Or you may now call us at 772-562-1166. We hope you have found this information helpful and hope to see you very soon.

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