Christmas Palm Tree: How to Care for a Christmas Palm Tree
While palm trees possess a unique tropical charm, the majority grow to be enormous monsters reaching heights of 60 feet (18 meters). The size and upkeep of these enormous trees make them impractical for a private landscape. The Christmas tree palm has the same distinctive silhouette as its larger cousins but none of these issues. You can achieve a tropical feel in your home landscape without having to deal with larger specimens of the family by growing Christmas palm trees. Let’s study up on these palms.
A Christmas palm: what is it?
The Christmas palm, or Adonidia merrillii, grows into a beautiful smaller tropical tree that looks great in landscapes around homes. A Christmas palm: what is it? The dwarf Royal or Manila palm are other names for the plant. It is helpful in USDA zone 10 and is indigenous to the Philippines. The tree is self-cleaning and only reaches a height of 20 to 25 feet (6-8 meters). Warm-weather gardeners who are fortunate enough should be able to grow Christmas palm trees, which provide a small tropical touch with minimal upkeep. The Christmas palm takes off and grows quickly to reach a height of 6 feet (2 meters). The tree’s growth rate significantly slows down after it is planted. The tree’s gracefully bowed crown may extend up to 8 feet (2 meters) in diameter, and its smoothly ridged trunk can grow to a diameter of 5 to 6 inches (13–15 cm). The pinnate leaves of Christmas tree palms arch and can grow up to five feet (1.5 meters) in length. The origin of the name “Christmas palm tree” is one of the more fascinating details about it. The plant produces clusters of vibrant red fruits that ripen around the time of Advent. The fruit is regarded by many gardeners as a debris nuisance, but messy problems can usually be resolved by pulling them before they ripen.
How to Develop a Palm Tree for Christmas
These trees have small root balls, so landscapers like to plant them fairly close to one another to create the appearance of a natural grove. Be advised that excessive competition can prevent some Christmas palm trees from thriving if they are planted too close to one another. Sparse fronds and spindly trunks can also result from planting in areas with insufficient light. When the seeds are ripe, which is in late fall or early winter, gather them if you want to try growing your own Christmas tree palm. After removing the pulp, submerge the seed in a 10% bleach and water solution. Seeds should be sown shallow in flats or tiny containers and placed in an area that is between 70 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (21 and 37 degrees Celsius). Maintain moisture in the container. Christmas tree palm seeds germinate pretty quickly, so you should see sprouts in a matter of weeks.
Christmas Palm Tree Maintenance
This tree can withstand light shade, but it prefers full sun and slightly sandy, well-drained soil. Once established, the plants need extra water, but as they get older, these trees can survive brief dry spells. Additionally, they can handle salinity well. Use a time-release palm food to fertilize once every four months. Prune the plants as needed, but this is rare because they clean themselves. It is possible for the palms to get Lethal Yellowing. The palm will ultimately succumb to this illness. An inoculation is given as a preventative measure prior to the plant becoming ill. The plant is very common in warm climates, which is why caring for Christmas palm trees is generally very simple. However, there are a few fungal diseases to be concerned about.
