Queen Palm Tree Care

The queen palm that is native to the South American continent, is mainly found in countries like Argentina, Brazil, etc. This palm is very popular as an ornamental tree and is widely used for landscaping purposes. As it looks similar to the coconut palm, the queen palm tree (Syagrus romanzoffiana) was earlier classified under the Cocos genus as Cocos plumosa, but was later moved to the genus of palms, called Syagrus, .

Queen Palm Tree - Appearance

Queen palm trees can grow up to 50 feet in length and have dark green fronds with a double row of leaflets. The smooth gray trunk of this palm sports rings of evenly spaced leaf scars. The queen palm tree is very popular for the colorful display of its flowers and fruits. During summers, large clusters of cream-colored flowers emerge from large pods and transform to bunches of green fruits during winters. These fruits are spherical in shape and each fruit is about an inch long, housing a single seed with three spots. As they get ripe, the fruits of the queen palm tree turn bright orange. Such clusters of fruits are around six feet in length. Though these fruits smell very good, they are not edible.

Growing Queen Palm Tree

The queen palm tree is fast-growing and if the conditions are favorable, it can grow up to an average height of around six feet, every year (once it gets established). When fully grown, these palm trees can be almost 50 feet tall and have a width of around 20 feet. Queen palm trees love direct sunlight and can tolerate cold to a temperature of around 25° F. Acidic and well-drained soil is perfect for planting a queen palm tree, whereas alkaline soil may lead to mineral deficiencies, which can stunt the growth of the tree and eventually cause its death. If planted in alkaline soil, regular preventive applications should be done, in order to prevent mineral deficiency and eventual death. Such preventive measures include regular application of iron, manganese and potassium. Queen palm tree care starts with its planting and includes proper watering, fertilizing, pruning and pest control. This palm tree grows well, if planted in the right location and taken care of properly .

Queen Palm Tree Care

As mentioned earlier, queen palm tree care starts with proper planting. The soil must be suitable for this palm tree and the location, where you intend to plant it, must get enough sunlight. Once you plant the palm, water it thoroughly. Make sure you water it daily for at least two to three weeks, from the day of planting. After this period, watering can be done three times weekly. During summers, you should water the plant at least three times a week, which can be reduced to twice a week in winters. Fertilizer has to be applied 2 to 3 times a year, during the spring or summer. The fertilizer should contain iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and nitrogen. Care must be taken not to apply fertilizer near the trunk of the tree. It must be applied at a distance of around two feet from the tree trunk, in a ring-like fashion. In general, a queen palm tree requires manganese the most. So, you can even add some manganese to the soil in which the palm tree is planted, because manganese deficiency leads to the 'frizzy top' condition, which can lead to their death. You can also use a homemade palm tree fertilizer.

Another factor regarding queen palm tree care is pruning, which can be done during September, till the onset of November. This is mainly aimed at growing a strong tree. Excessive pruning is not advisable as it can prove detrimental to the palm tree. Only brown or yellow fronds has to be pruned and this can be done with a saw. The most commonly found disease in queen palm trees is Ganoderma butt rot. This is caused by a fungus that enters the tree through the wounds and cuts on the lower trunk and roots. Even the infected pruning tools can spread this condition. So, it is better to sterilize these tools, after pruning each palm. There is no cure for this disease, but you can resort to preventive measures. The common pests that attack this tree are palm leaf skeletonizer and scale, which can also be controlled with the right pest control measures. These trees can be a beautiful addition to your landscape, with their unique appearance. You can easily grow these trees successfully, if you have a basic idea about proper queen plant tree care.