Plant Library

Other Names:  Majestic Palm

Description:

A shade tolerant palm that thrives well under a canopy of tall trees, can adjust to light levels; grows very quickly and is tolerant of different soil types; must be fertilized frequently; an attractive, symmetrical plant, perfect as a landscape accent

Ornamental Features

Majesty Palm is primarily valued in the landscape for its canopy of attractive foliage which towers high above the ground. It is draped in stunning panicles of white flowers hanging below the branches in late spring. It has attractive green evergreen foliage. The narrow pinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. The smooth gray bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Majesty Palm is an evergreen tropical plant with a strong central leader and a towering form, with a high canopy of foliage concentrated at the top of the plant. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tropical plant, and may require the occasional pruning to look its best. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects

Majesty Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Majesty Palm will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. This is a dioecious species, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. Only the females will produce fruit, and a male variety of the same species is required nearby as a pollinator.

This tropical plant does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America..

Majesty Palm is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.