Palm Trees

article by Steve R. Black

Ok… I will admit that locally the words above either excite ill feelings or stir the soul with positive tropical vibes. Many folks just want to see live oaks and southern magnolias presented in our landscapes.

When I meet clients for the first time and we begin discussing style, one of the first questions I ask is if they want to see palm trees in their landscape. I will ensure you that there is little compromise on their stance. Most people either love them or hate them. With over 2,600 species of palms on our planet you will come across them quite frequently. It’s a little known fact that Palms are monocots, so botanically speaking, palms are really big grass.

In my 37 years of owning a Landscape firm I have had the opportunity to learn much about palm trees. Way back, I was that guy that had installed the Medjool Palms (Phoenix Dactylifera) for Sacred Heart Hospital at the corner or 9th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard. There was such an uproar in the media that we took them out in the night so the pics would not end up on the front of PNJ! Later my company, Green Procedures Inc., was chosen to design and install landscapes such as Portofino Island Resort, Beach Club and Verandas on Pensacola Beach. Having installed thousands of palms early in my career I researched and gained much needed knowledge, many times gaining through trial and error.

We live in what I call a transition area. We are neither Tropical nor Northern. Many winters we will not see the temperatures dip below the freezing mark. But, occasionally we will have an

Arctic blast (much like this past Christmas) ride down on a rogue jet stream and remind us just how frigid we can get. With temperatures dipping well into the teens many of our less cold tolerant palms took a hit and some died. While many are beginning to put on new fronds some are not. If the most terminal bud pulls out of the center of the fronds (called pulling the spear), the palm is dead. However, while most palm species are found in the rain forest around the globe, many palms grow in areas that reach to zero degrees. Armed with the appropriate knowledge, it’s possible to create a tropical looking landscape along the Gulf Coast complete with those Caribbean vibes that palm trees bring into any equation.

Love them or hate them? My personal feelings are that I want to see Palm trees in Pensacola. Not always and certainly not in every design but, when called for…. A great design takes all things into account: The architecture of the new, The architecture of the surrounding, What am I trying to say to those around me through my design? … and What is the sustainability of this landscape?

The Sabal Palm (Cabbage Palm) is the most common palm tree in Florida and is native to Florida and all along the Southeastern US coasts. This cold hardy palm can handle the cold down into the mid-teens. Its palm fronds can also handle our windy conditions better than any other palm. The Sabal is commonly referred to as the Cabbage Palm since this is the species of palm that Hearts of Palm (cabbage like flavor) comes from. This practice kills the Palm and has been outlawed in Florida.

So let’s say you do like the idea of palms in your landscape. How does one achieve a desired result? First, you must have the knowledge of what palms can handle NW Florida winters. Secondly, the growth habit and overall look will determine how a palm is used in the landscape. Since we get to or below the 20 degree mark every few years I am only listing the palms that tolerate that condition.

TALL PALMS -

Primarily utilized in groupings in design.

Sabal Palm - Sabal Palmetto (native)

Washingtonia Palm - Washingtonia Robusta

Desert Fan Palm - Washingtonia Filifera

Windmill Palms - Trachycarpus fortunei

FOCAL PALMS -

Primarily utilized as center points or Street trees.

Canary Date Island Palm - Phoenix Carinesis

Medjool Date Palm - Phoenix Dactylifera

Wild Date Palm - Phoenix Sylvestris

Pindo Palm - Butia capitata (Jelly Palm)

UNDERPLANTING OR ACCENT PALMS -

Primarily used in planting beds or as accents.

Saw Palmetto - Serena reopens (native)

Coontie Palm - Zamia integrifolia (actually a cycad )

European (or Mediterranean ) Fan PalmChamaerops humilis

Sago Palm - Cycas revoluta (also a cycad)

Lady Palm - Rhapis excelsa

Needle palm - Rhapidophyllum hystrix (native)

Dwarf Palmetto - Sabal Minor (native)

TAKE SOME OFF?

When we are considering trimming a palm tree it should be noted that only yellowing or brown palm fronds should be removed. If green fronds must be removed, choose only the fronds growing downward. Horizontal and upward growing fronds should be left alone. Over trimming causes stress and only invites pests. Timely removal of the fruit or flowers reduces the number of potential seedlings and this practice is encouraged in designed landscapes. It should be noted that since palms lack the cambium layer that is just beneath the bark of a tree, the palm trunk will not heal itself from any injury. Thus, measures must be taken to protect the trunk from gouges or other mechanical damage since it will forever be a conduit for insects and disease.

FEED ME:

Palms have specific needs when it comes to fertilizers. A good palm tree fertilizer is best and in addition to Nitrogen and Potassium, it will contain Magnesium (a secondary nutrient) and micronutrients as well. A palm tree that is deficient in Magnesium will demonstrate yellowing lower leaves (the older fronds) as the palm will rob the older fronds to support their new growth at the center bud. Look for a 8-0-12-4 fertilizer formulation that is slow release with that terminal number being Magnesium. The University of Florida has determined this to best for all palms and recommends the feeding every 3 months. Read the label for other specifics concerning the application.

Most people that want palms in their landscapes are reaching back to a feeling they received while on vacation in a tropical setting. While Northwest Florida is not tropical, we certainly can create and maintain that look and feel that excites that young couple or family that visits our little part of the world. Let’s be good stewards of this beauty.