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Roystonea regia (Florida Royal Palm)

Florida Royal Palm, Palma elata, Roystonea elata, Roystonea floridana

Roystonea regia, Florida Royal Palm, Palma elata, Roystonea elata, Roystonea floridana, Ntive Florida Palm, Native Florida Tree
Roystonea regia, Florida Royal Palm, Palma elata, Roystonea elata, Roystonea floridana, Ntive Florida Palm, Native Florida Tree

Tall and majestic, Roystonea regia (Florida Royal Palm) is a fast-growing evergreen palm with a smooth silvery gray trunk topped with enormous, dark green, graceful fronds. Up to 10-15 ft. long (3-4.5 m), the feathery fronds emanate from a smooth green crownshaft. They can weigh over 50 pounds. Royal Palm is considered self-cleaning: naturally dying old leaves will drop off by themselves. While this eliminates the need to trim off old dead leaves, the incredible size and weight of these leaves can cause injury to people and damage to property when they fall. Care should be taken when placing this tree. The trunk of this stately palm can reach up to 2 ft. in diameter (60 cm). Tiny white flowers are produced in showy, hanging sprays, up to 2 ft. long (60 cm). They can release so much pollen that it can look like falling snow. They are followed by great quantities of dark red to black fruits that are readily consumed by birds. Easy to grow and exotic-looking, Florida Royal Palm is considered cold-hardy to about 28°F (-2°C). It is ideal for landscaping streets, parks, and commercial properties. Hurricane resistant, Florida Royal Palm is South Florida’s most popular and widely used native palm.

  • Grows with an upright habit up to 60-100 ft. tall (18-30 m) and 20-30 ft. wide (6-9 m).
  • Easily grown in moist to very moist, fertile soils in full sun to part shade. Moderately tolerant of salt spray, Florida Royal Palm is intolerant of high salt concentrations in its root zone. It grows well in wet soils and is quite drought tolerant once established.
  • Florida Royal Palm is prone to deficiencies in potassium, manganese, and boron, especially on calcareous native or fill soils. Regular fertilization with a controlled release fertilizer having an analysis of 8-2-12-4 Mg (or 8-0-12-4 Mg) plus micronutrients can correct and prevent nutrient deficiencies.
  • Keep an eye out for the royal palm bug (Xylastodoris luteolus), a tiny, pale green, elongated bug that infests newly emerging leaves as they unfold.
  • Propagate by seed.
  • Native to Mexico, parts of Central America and the Caribbean, and southern Florida.

Requirements

Hardiness 10 - 11
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Plant Family Arecaceae
Genus Cycas
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 60' - 100' (18.3m - 30.5m)
Spread 20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southeast, Florida
Tolerance Drought, Salt, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden, Coastal Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Zamia pumila (Coontie)
Coccothrinax argentata (Florida Silver Palm)
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii (Paurotis Palm)
Serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto)
Dioon spinulosum (Giant Dioon)
Cyrtostachys renda (Lipstick Palm)

Recommended Companion Plants

Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress)
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Sabal palmetto (Cabbage Palm)
Ilex cassine (Dahoon)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 10 - 11
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Plant Family Arecaceae
Genus Cycas
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 60' - 100' (18.3m - 30.5m)
Spread 20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southeast, Florida
Tolerance Drought, Salt, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden, Coastal Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Not sure which Cycas to pick?
Compare Now

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