CHRISTMAS PALM
The Christmas palm, also known as the Manila palm, is an absolute treasure in tropical landscapes, celebrated for its extraordinary adaptability to compact spaces. Originating from the Philippines, this magnificent palm has been captivating hearts across tropical regions worldwide for centuries.
Witnessing its initial rapid growth up to about 6 feet is nothing short of exhilarating before it gracefully slows down, maintaining an elegant stature over time. Ultimately reaching heights of 20 to 25 feet with trunks measuring a slender 5 to 6 inches thick and a canopy spread of approximately 5 to 8 feet, these palms are truly a sight to behold! Though single-stemmed by nature, they are often planted in enchanting clusters of two to four, creating stunning displays with their elegantly curving trunks. The leaves are pinnately compound and stretch about 4 to 5 feet long with a striking arching form; the leaflets align beautifully in a V-shape along the rachis. As if that weren’t enough, flower stalks emerge beneath the prominent crownshaft and produce vibrant clusters of bright red fruits about 1.5 inches long that ripen from late fall into winter—bestowing upon this palm its festive moniker: Christmas palm!
Christmas palms are pretty chill with cold weather, handling temps down to about 30°F or USDA zone 10b. Once they’re settled in, they don’t mind a bit of drought and can handle some salt spray on their leaves. They fit right in with Florida’s not-so-rich soils and usually don’t have any nutrient issues. Sometimes, though, they might show signs of boron deficiency—like small or weirdly shaped new leaves, unopened spear leaves, or sideways growth. If you’re curious about that, check out Boron Deficiency in Palms for more details.
When you plant a bunch together, it’s normal for one to be shorter or look a bit off because of deeper planting or competition among the group. Once they’re established, Christmas palms are low-maintenance champs—they even drop old leaves by themselves! But if you don’t want the mess from fallen red fruits later on, it’s best to snip off the flower stalks before they turn into fruit bombs.