Syagrus romanzoffiana
A fast - farm , tropic Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree embellish with gently arc frond , the queen ribbon is an esthetic delicacy .
With a crown of foliage that ’s not quite uniform , the queen palm has the same delicious dissymmetry as a right - to - left hair part , the lean pillar of Pisa , or even Dwayne “ The Rock ” Johnson ’s stylemark Samoan tattoo .
We link to vendor to help oneself you come up relevant products . If you bribe from one of our links , we may earn a commission .
Photo by Katja Schulz, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
Syragrus romanzoffianaalso has a moderate tolerance of drought and salt nebuliser , make the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree more than just a pretty case .
And just like the queen regnant piece in chess , the queen medallion is a very powerful plus to the tropical landscape painting .
Ourguide to growing palm treeshas all the details about other members of the Arecaceae family . In this clause we ’ll zero in on how to care for queen thenar .
Photo by Katja Schulz, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
Here ’s what we ’ll be discussing :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Queen Palms?
The queen palm – akaSyragrus romanzoffiana – is a extremity of the Arecaceae family , alongside related plant such asparlor , fishtail , andlady palms .
The queen palm has had quite a few botanic name change over the years .
First scientifically described in a Gallic publication asCocos romanzoffianain 1822 , the queen palm was also dubbedCocos plumosaby England ’s Loddiges greenhouse around 1825 .
When a queen palm seedling find it ’s means from the Loddiges greenhouse to England ’s Kew gardens in 1840 , Kew phytologist cerebrate that it wasCocos coronatainstead .
But when the specimen reached maturity and produced yield , the garden ’s director Joseph Dalton Hooker formally published the botanical name asC. plumosain 1860 .
Destined to become a democratic ornamental , queen palm were deal under theC. plumosaname well into the 2000s .
However , there was still nomenclature disagreements among big - brained plantspeople .
By 1912,C. plumosahad been reduced toC. romanzoffianavar.plumosaby the German Botanist Alwin Berger . later on , the Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari designated it as one of many variety ofArecastrum romanzoffianum .
It was n’t until 1968 that queen mole rat palms were officially designatedSyragus romanzoffianum . To this Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , there ’s still confusion in the trade … but now you know thetruetruth !
initiate from the tropics and semitropics of South America , the queen decoration has also been introduced in the United States – California and Florida in finicky .
In the Sunshine State , the University of Florida has assessed the plant ’s potential invasiveness and slap it with a “ circumspection ” warning , urging growers to manageS. romanzoffianaso that it does n’t escape from its intended planting sites .
With aUSDA Hardiness Zonerange of 9 to 11,S. romanzoffianais actually passably intrepid for a tropical plant , as it can survive in temperatures as low as 25oF without taking harm from the frigidity .
These Tree reach mature height of 30 to 50 feet , with spreads of about half that . S. romanzoffianasports a narrow gray tree trunk that ’s one to two feet wide , reverberate with foliage scars .
In distinctive palm tree fashion , the trunk does n’t importantly increase its cinch like those of true tree – it only grows up .
At the top of the trunk is a crownwork of feathery greenish fronds , which tend to droop with age .
On full - sizing specimens , each frond can grow up to 15 base long , while each individual cusp can measure three foot in duration !
In natural spring to summer , queen palms will bloom with magnanimous , long - stemmed clusters of pale yellow to white flowers .
After pollination , the blooms will give manner to brownish - orange yield that turn bright orange when good . These be given to drop and gather up en masse at the foundation of trees .
Queen Palm Propagation
While it ’s possible to grow these flora from ejaculate , it ’s a very slow process . You ’re better off buy a plant from a nursery for transplant .
But if you do fancy a seed - starting labor , here are the details :
From Seed
Growing this species from ejaculate can be a bit frustrative , as it take six week tosix monthsbefore germination occurs .
You ’ll also need to keep the sown seeds at high temperatures the integral time , whether in a greenhouse or a natural environment that ’s consistently hot .
In line to most palm seeds , S. romanzoffianaseeds actually develop well when they ’re take from unripe green fruits , rather than half - advanced or to the full ripe single .
But if you miss a bucket motortruck or monkey - alike climbing skills , then collect seed from new fallen fruit works , too . you may even avoid all that sour and purchase some seminal fluid from a reputable vendor instead .
To collect your own come , collect the fall fruits , remove their fleshy flesh , and soak the seeds in water for two days . vary the water each day , and give up them to breeze - dry for a day or so after soak .
Once they ’re soaked , dried , and ready to go , fill four - inch container with a half - and - half premix of moisture - retaining and well - draining ingredients , such as peat moss and perlite .
Then , sow your seeds just below the media ’s Earth’s surface – one per container , ideally .
Since sprouting can be so quicksilver , you ’ll need to prep and sow several come in a bunch of container .
Place your container somewhere they get full sun exposure , in an surroundings that ’s systematically kept at temperatures of 90 to 95oF.
wash the develop media , and keep it damp as seed germinate and seedling appear .
Once the seeded player germinate and one to two leafage have form , you may begin indurate them off in preparation for planting outside .
This imply depart the seedlings out in their eventual environment for a half to a full hour , then add together 30 to 60 minutes of pic each successive 24-hour interval . After they ’re hardened off , they are ready for transplantation !
Transplanting
Whether you have started your own seedling or purchased a plant at the baby’s room , before you transplant , you should select and prepare the appropriate planting sites .
Choose smear in the garden with sandy to flaxen loam grease and a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 , with full Sunday to partial spectre photograph .
Space your planting sites as far apart as you expect your plants to spread once they ’re mature . Or only space them 12 foot apart , if you want to keep them more incorporate .
Alternatively , you could arise your queen palm in a pot which will naturally restrict how big the specimen will become . Prepare the pot with a half and half motley of peat moss and perlite or use a laurel wreath - specific potting premix .
grind holes about the same depth and a little bit wider than the root system of the plants . The mess should be approximately the same size as the container the flora is currently growing in .
cautiously take the plant from its container , turn down it into the hole before backfilling with soil . urine in well , and add more grease if it settles .
How to Grow Queen Palms
A plant such as the queen palm deserves nothing less than the royal treatment . Here ’s how to render it :
Climate and Exposure Needs
As cite earlier , S. romanzoffiananeeds to be in USDA zona 9 to 11 if it ’s to go for the long term .
Temperatures consistently below 25oF will damage the fronds , although the plant life has been known to rebound back after brief exposure to temperatures in the mid - teenager .
Hot and humid is best , though .
Full sun is idealistic , although a bit of shade is also satisfactory .
Soil Needs
The optimal soil for a queen ribbon is either Baroness Dudevant or a sandy loam . Ideally with a slimly acidulous pH of 6.0 to 6.5 , as alkaline soils can cause severe nutritionary deficiencies .
If you go with either of those sandy textures , then the “ well - draining ” requirement is taken care of by default . These plants absolutely must have well - draining soil .
Water and Fertilizer Needs
As a moderately drouth - tolerant industrial plant , S. romanzoffianawill value auxiliary irrigation when the top three inch of grunge dries out – but it can make do with less water .
Be sure to keep an centre on it during hot or dry piece .
veritable applications of a palm - specific fertilizer during the growing season will aid to prop up any nutritive deficiencies .
Jobe ’s Organics Fertilizer
Jobe ’s Organics pull in a granular palm food with a 4 - 2 - 4 NPK proportion that’savailable via Amazon .
As with any plant food , be indisputable to follow the manufacturer ’s directions for app .
find out more about fertilizing palm tree here .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
One aspect ofS. romanzoffianathat ’s a bit of a bummer : they do n’t ego - clean , which means dead frond will stay up on a tree for a while if they are n’t pruned off .
Dead , pathological , and damaged fronds should all be pronto pruned , whether via a ladder , a bucket motortruck , and/or a long pole saw .
you could also remove the floral inflorescences before they set seed , if you ’re not a devotee of rich amounts of yield fall to the ground and making a mess .
A two- to four - inchlayer of mulch , when applied several inches away from the automobile trunk , can do curiosity for wet retention and help protect the rootsduring dusty spells .
Should any fallen germ bourgeon and raise volunteer plants , you ’ll want to overstretch those quickly .
If you ’re growing your queen palm in a container , the flora will need repotting every twain of years as it becomes source bound .
For logistic purposes , you might want to crest your maximum container size at 15 gallons to forestall the plant from becoming too large and rumbustious .
Where to Buy Queen Palms
So you ’ve decided to purchase a queen palm or two … or ten . What now ?
If you find to live near a tropical plant greenhouse – Florida ’s full of ’em – you should be dress . Whether you buy seeds or starts , clientele that differentiate in heat- and humidness - loving plant are your near wager .
Of course , you could also buy yourS. romanzoffianaspecimens online .
Queen Palm
Fast Growing Trees carriesqueen palm specimens in a variety of unlike sizes to fit your need .
Managing Pests and Disease
The queen medal is n’t prostrate to plague or disease if it ’s spring up in optimal conditions , but sometimes issues can arise in bitchiness of your best crusade .
Since you ’re dealing with super tall plant , you may need some upright aid when you go for any controls .
Pests
There are a number of pests that can place palms , includingS. romanzoffiana .
What a cool , intimidate name – kinda like “ Skeletor ” or “ Dr. Doom . ”
Homaledra sabalella , the palm leaf skeletonizer , is a potent threat . After come forth from egg position on the plant life , the translucent , brown - channelise caterpillars construct silky , frass - flecked tubes , which merge into turgid silk mats that cover the upper and low-toned surface of the foliage .
In large groups , the caterpillars really go to township , promptly consuming leaf tissue until all that stay are leafy “ skeletons ” of limply - flow veins and midvein .
As you could imagine , photosynthesis is boil down , while the flora ’s health and aesthetics quickly stomach .
insecticide are n’t in force against these pests , as they often ca n’t get through the silk .
Predatory insects such as tachinid fly and leechlike white Anglo-Saxon Protestant can leave mild control , while high - speed spray of H2O from the garden hose can physically knock the pests from infested areas .
belong to the Coccoidea superfamily , scale insects are the unit of ammunition , flattened bugs that congregate in conspicuous masses on plants like fish or reptilian plate , or perhaps a dermatologist ’s nightmare .
Whether soft - bodied or armored , these pests extract sap from folio with their thrust - sucking mouthparts , which can weaken and stunt emergence , and cause yellow farewell .
In summation , they eliminate honeydew as they feed , which can promote the maturation ofsooty mold .
Sprays of horticultural oil can kill these pests , especially when coverage is soundly applied throughout the canopy .
Monterey Horticultural Oil
you may find Monterey Horticultural Oil availableat Arbico Organics .
Learn more about how to make do scale insects in our guide .
These arachnids are sturdy to see with the naked eye , but you may notice their webs .
In a interchangeable fashion to scale insects , spider mites extract sap from leaf like succus from a juice box .
dotted foliage tissue is the initial symptom , which can progress into chlorosis , bronzing , or even defoliation . add contumely to accidental injury , the afflicted leafage will demonstrate conspicuously ugly webbing .
Strong spray of water provide manual control , while apply insecticidal soaps will stamp out the pests outright .
Bonide Insecticidal Soap
Need insecticidal soap ? you’re able to find quick - to - habit spray bottles of Bonide Insecticidal Soapavailable from Arbico Organics .
Disease
There are two principal diseases that can threaten the life of your queen palm tree , fusarium wilt and ganoderma butt bunkum . permit ’s take a closer flavour at both of these :
A gnarly disease , Fusarium wilt is have by the fungusFusarium oxysporum f. sp . Palmarum(say that five meter tight ! ) , which can stay dormant in dirt for many years .
Spreading via spores , the pathogen clogs up the water - lead xylem of infected plants .
Symptoms lead off in the petioles of old leaves first , leaving a undivided side of infected frond with leaflets that are functionally stagnant , yet held up in their petrified place like they were taxidermied .
Eventually , the entire frond dies , and the symptoms circulate to younger and young leaves until the total crownwork perishes .
There is no known curative for Fusarium wilting . All you could do is prevent its spread , by fleetly removing infected plants , and avoid plant new palms in taint dirt .
hit specimens and their detritus should be burned or buried .
I ’ll attempt to keep this brief – I ’m writing this bit in a quiet program library , and I can only type “ hind end rot ” so many time before I pop to titter .
induce by the fungusGanoderma zonatum , ganoderma butt rotting is usually confined to the bottom three to four feet of a ribbon ’s trunk , hence the name . This disease causes the inside of the trunk to decompose , leaving it discolored with a gnarly chocolate-brown grime .
By the sentence the tree shows decline and symptoms of wilting , 85 percent of the trunk will be destroyed .
Before the industrial plant die , fruiting body – orconks – can constitute on the low part of the bole and produce billions of dusty , reddish - brown spores that propagate the disease far and across-the-board .
Unfortunately , it ’s tough to diagnose butt rot until a palm dies or develops the conks , so my advice is purely reactionist .
If your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree comes down with ganoderma butt hogwash , completely remove it and crunch down the pulpit – you do n’t want conk to grow on a dead , yet intact stump !
You ’ll also want to avoid planting a palm in the same infected topographic point , lest you deal with this affliction once again .
Best Uses for Queen Palms
As any royalty jazz , where you place the throne is important . And this queen mole rat does n’t take care sharing the throne – S. romanzoffianalooks fantastic when grow in a mathematical group as well as solo .
When planning your queen medal position , consider imbed them near curbsides , or perhaps on median cartoon strip in the road .
Maybe even an island in the cul - Delaware - theca , if you ’ve got that form of pull with your HOA . Just make certain you clear up the fallen fruits at time of year ’s ending !
Quick Reference Growing Guide
All Hail the Queen
imperial and proud - looking , S. romanzoffianais a beautiful accession to any tropic landscape painting .
And for moreinformation about growing other types of palms , summate these templet to your indication listing next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photos via Arbico Organics , dissolute Growing Trees , and Jobe ’s Organics . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Joe Butler
