Difference between revisions of "Roystonea oleracea"

Revision as of 16:23, 31 August 2014

Pronunciation: roy-STONE-ee-uh oh-ler-AH-see-uh

Common Name: South American Royal Palm, Venezuelan Royal Palm

Roystonea oleracea is easily the most ornamental of the genus and though it also one of the more marginal species for southern California, for those lucky enough to live in the right climate, this is one of the most spectacular palms one can grow here. This is potentially one of the tallest pinnate palms one can grow in California. In the tropics, this palm grows over 100' and is one of the most spectacular trees for planting in groups or to line a roadway.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: Solitary with a crown of 15-20 leaves
Height: 80' estimate (none nearly that tall... yet)
Trunk: single; 28" in diameter; ringed though rings fade with age; eventually lower trunk looks like a thick, concrete pole; clean/smooth
Crownshaft: 3' long with bulge at bottom and tapering to narrow top, about 1/2 the diameter of the trunk immediately below crownshaft; dark green to dark blue-green
Spread: 25'
Leaf Description: pinnate; 15' long; very subtly plumose with leaflets relatively wide for a Roystonea, drooping from a flat plane; leaves always borne upright to nearly horizontal- never below horizontal; deep lime green to dark green
Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long and nearly tubular; light green
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: 18"; highly branched; stout; often multiple in number, immediately below crownshaft pointing upright just about horizontal
Fruit: ovoid green to blackish purple as they ripen; 1" long
Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 30F
Drought Tolerance: moderate
Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
Wind Tolerance: moderate to good
Salt Tolerance: unknown
Growth Rate: fast
Soil Preference: somewhat adaptable- prefers moist and well draining
Light Requirement: full sun
Human Hazards: very heavy leaves can fall and cause injury, automobile damage
Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: poor choice probably
Availability: rare but often available at palm specialty nurseries

Hawaii, as all photos below unless marked otherwise
Thailand
Singapore
row of Roystonea oleracea in Hilo with a replacement Roystonea regia for comparison

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 '''Common Name''': South American Royal Palm, Venezuelan Royal Palm
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-'''''Roystonea oleracea''''' is easily the most ornamental of the genus and though it also one of the more marginal species for southern California, for those lucky enough to live in the right climate, this is one of the most spectacular palms one can grow here.
+'''''Roystonea oleracea''''' is easily the most ornamental of the genus and though it also one of the more marginal species for southern California, for those lucky enough to live in the right climate, this is one of the most spectacular palms one can grow here.  This is potentially one of the tallest pinnate palms one can grow in California.  In the tropics, this palm grows over 100' and is one of the most spectacular trees for planting in groups or to line a roadway.
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Difference between revisions of "Roystonea oleracea"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 16:23, 31 August 2014