I don't think heat is an issue with these. Mine thrives in the Houston heat (and humidity) hint hint. Do you have it well shaded? Look at those in the zoo. Give "Jungle Music" a call for tips on growing them.

Thank you for the reply Houstonpat. I do not have well shaded and was not told that it needed shade. The palm experts who planted it for me told me it would be perfect where it is...and they do a lot of palms for big money projects in the SW. They told me to give it the winter but they have never seen one lose all branches except one spear shooting straight up into the sky about 10 feet.

You might read the link below, especially about the premature flowering of larger C. gigas when transplanted. They recommended a max 24' box size, not field grown, for successful transplanting.
Do you have it in full sun? They also say Caryotas seem to have a hard time holding on to many branches at once without a litte bit of relief from full sun.

Here is a link that might be useful: Caryota Palms

I agree with the theory of premature flowering resulting from transplant stress. Did your nursery provide any guarantee for transplant success?

Thanks for the tips and the link. I actually spoke to the guy from Jungle Music yesterday...he is about 3 miles from me. It's his website you sent the link from. He said the tree has about a 50/50 chance of making it. He agreed with you both and said it is most likely a problem of shock due to transplant from a field to a box to my yard. He suggested giving it a couple of months or seeing if my nursery will honor the tree and replace it.

I'd be a little concerned about the unusally cold weather there recently as well, and would think that would be a problem as well. Don't know how cold hardy they're supposed to be however!

Are you still giving it plenty of water ?
If so this could also be the culprit...
not saying it's the whole cause , but like bird said as cold as it has been Trees that stay wet all the time will start to rot !

Do you have a picture of said palm? Also, give the spear a tug and see if it gives at all. It sounds like your plant is very stressed out, and when palms are this way, fungus can set it easily. I would not keep the soil too wet.

I pulled apart the spear a bit out of curiousity. It was very brown on the inside. I'm not too optimistic. I am going to go back to the nursery to see what they'll do. Thanks for all the tips!