Syagrus
romanzoffiana Queen
Palm or Cocos plumosa
See
also: Hurricane
Resistant Trees for Your Landscape
The standard urban palm
throughout south Florida is the Queen Palm. Of the
tribe Cocoeae, and subfamily Arecoideae
it is also known as Cocos plumosa. It grows quickly, is bothered
by few pests or diseases and is graceful in appearance. Queen palms
are native from Southern Brazil to Argentina.
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A
very healthy Queen palm.
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Queen
palms
grow very TALL. I need a pole saw and a ladder
to prune this one. Click image to enlarge. |
Dangerous
during hurricanes, a shallow root system makes
them prone to blowing over in high winds. Click
image to enlarge. |
Plant
Facts:
Common Name:
Queen
Palm or Cocos plumosa
Botanical Name:
Syagrus
romanzoffiana
Family:
Cocoeae
Plant Type:
Palm
Origin: Southern
Brazil to Argentina
Zones: 10-11
Height: 50'
or more
Rate of Growth: Medium
to fast
Salt Tolerance: Medium
Soil Requirements:
Slightly
acid, well-drained
Water Requirements:
Moderately
drought tolerant
Nutritional Requirements:
High,
subject to manganese and potassium deficiency
Light Requirements: Full
sun
Form:
Solitary
palm, canopy of 15 leaves
Leaves:
Pinnately
compound, reduplicate, arching; with several hundred many ranked, drooping leaflets in
groups of 2-7. Color -- Dark Green. 10-15' long; leaflets 3' long, 1.75"
wide.
Inflorescence: 4-8'
long, with conspicuous bract, borne from among the leaves, branched densely, the branches
pendulous.
Fruits: Yellow to
orange, produced in copious quantities
Pests or diseases:
Ganoderma,
phytophthora bud rot
Uses:
Specimen
tree
Bad Habits:
Fruit
is messy. Weak-roots combined with a prodigious sail-like canopy makes it prone
to topple in strong winds. Frizzletop a serious problem if not
feed regularly especially on alkaline soils. Pollen hazard. Very quick growing,
tall palm hard to prune. You will graduate from pole saw
to ladder and pole saw to cherry picker in a few years.
Cost: $$
-- reasonable
Propagation:
Seed, germinates in 3-6 months
Sources:
 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY A-Z ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDEN PLANTS,
 Betrocks
Guide to Landscape Palms
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