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Need help identifying this palm

14 years ago

Hi There!

I am new to this forum. Can anyone help me identify these palms in my backyard? My husband and I just moved in and we're trying to decide whether the continued maintenance on the palms would be too expensive. I'd love to keep them but need more info. There are 4 growing in a group as well as some little ones sprouting in other areas of our yard.

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Comments (10)

paradise_50
14 years ago
I am new to the palm craze, but it looks like it could be a Sago Palm, but not absolutely sure. Its a very pretty Palm. If it is a Sago, then they are slow growing palms. Good luck in your decision whether to keep them or not.
turtile
14 years ago
Its not a palm but a cycad. Not sure which one though.
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Though I couldn't get the photo , when I tried to copy and paste that address, I suspected since most folks loosely define "palms" as any plant with a long bare "trunk" and a cluster of leaves at the top, that it might not be a palm that was being described. Lucky in that case however, since unlike plams, the other "palm-like" plants may have their tops completely removed and can recover to start regrowth, whereas palms may not have the tops removed and survive in most cases. Pruning in that case consists at most of trimming off dead or brown frond and leaf tips and removing old dead fronds, but never the crowns!
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Ben, You are definitely on the right track. Yes it is a Butia and the yellowing is an indicator of a deficiency . The application of a full spectrum palm-specific will make all the difference.. The fertilizer will not fix the color of the existing fronds but will fully solve the yellowing on all new growth. As SecretSquirrel007 pointed out, the you can apply the fertilizer now without any problem. Palm growth is controlled by temperature not food and as such the fertilizer will be access when the warm spring weather arrives. We have been using the Lutz Palm Tree Spikes for over ten years and they are almost magic. Also, once the NUTRIENTproblem had been resolved the palm will likely not need subsequent feeding as palms translocate the nutrients from older fronds to new fronds. I would suggest getting Lutz Maintenance spike #30193. More on the product etc is at Lutz Palm Food Hope you can access the Lutz product. Pacific Northwest Pam Society (PNWPEPS)
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Neither of your plants is a palm. The first one is a Cordyline (related to Dracaenas) and the second one is a Strelitzia nicolae (Giant White Bird of Paradise). First regarding the Bird..., it does not look that bad. May have had some sun burn (if not acclimated to full sun). They are fairly easy but get very big for the average house. Splitting of the leaves is normal (especially outside in wind conditions). Not sure how much cold damage the ti plant had sustained. As long as the trunks are not cold damaged, it should recuperate. I would cut off the dead leaves already. They are not the easiest indoors as they require highish humidity. Use a well-draining soil on each, but they are not really fussy about soils,
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
14 years ago
Looks more like a Phoenix species palm to me. But hard to tell. Where are you located? What USDA zone? This might help.
steve0910
14 years ago
I believe it is a young Phoenix reclinata, a multi stemmed palm.
brandankinftpiercefl
14 years ago
I agree with steve0910 it is a Phoenix reclinata. One of the more dangerous palms when trimming. Those spines hurt!
yukonsara
Original Author
14 years ago
I live in LA. The leaves are very sharp! :) Thanks for everyone's help. I'd love to hear any more info!
david_
14 years ago
Can you show a closer pic of the fronds?
tropicalzone7
14 years ago
If the leaves are sharp at the bases it is definately some time of date palm. They are worth alot when older, and one of the nicest palms to have at an adult age, so you should definately keep them. It could be a true date palm or possibly a canary island date palm. Most dates can tolerate 20 degree winters.

Hope this helps
gusolie
14 years ago
How long are each of the fronds, it looks like a shot from your second story balcony, and tyring to guess the fronds are about 5' long (based on the scale of your kumquat)?

As others have mentioned, this is a Phoenix (Date Palm) species.

I'm wondering if a Cretin Data Palm (P. theophrasti).
catkim
14 years ago
I can't give a positive ID from the photo, but IF they are Phoenix reclinata, be sure you have room. If they are a hybrid Phoenix canariensis, be sure you have room. The base of a mature P. reclinata, even with trimmed suckers, is roughly the size of a compact car, then the eight or more trunks will arch about 25 ft. upward. Beautiful, but not usually seen in small home gardens.

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