Areca Palm Care
Whether you need one spectacular focal specimen for an exclusive client, such as an Areca Palm, or several hundred palms for a large resort, Palmco can meet your design specifications and educate you about palm tree care.
Palmco serves all of Florida and the contiguous U.S., growing a wide variety of wholesale palms and clumping bamboos with different heights, shapes, textures and even colors. We pride ourselves on our environmentally conscious growing process and exceptional customer service that is well-known in the industry.
About the Areca Palm
Palmco is a leading supplier of field-grown Areca Palms (Dypsis lutescens) in a variety of sizes.
This palm is also sometimes referred to as the Yellow Butterfly Palm, the Cane Palm, and the Feather Palm. The Madagascar native is not very cold hardy, so it is best-suited to Zones 10A to 11.
The dramatic clustering palm features many trunks that spring up from the base of the plant. It has long feathery fronds that give it a lush, full look, and it reminds onlookers of the classic Florida palm tree.
Arecas can reach heights of 15 to 20 feet, making them well-suited to privacy screens, hedges and landscape backdrops. The canopy of these palms can grow 8 to 10 feet in diameter, so give them enough space to grow properly.
Caring for Areca Palms
Sunlight. Areca palms do better in areas with bright indirect light or partial shade in a well-draining soil. In full sun, the leaves often turn yellow from sunburn.
Planting. Dig a hole that is about twice as wide as the root ball of the palm. Make sure it is deep enough so that the root ball fits in comfortably, but still protrudes above the surface at least an inch to encourage good drainage.
Water. Water newly planted palms frequently while they are establishing root systems. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dries out. Do not allow the soil to dry completely, but do not allow the plant to sit in water because this could lead to root rot.
Fertilize. Fertilize in spring, summer and fall with a granular palm fertilizer that contain micronutrients. Arecas – especially those grown in the shade – love to be fed.
Pruning: Only remove dead or damaged canes from the Areca. The entire palm may die if canes are pruned improperly or excessively. Never prune the brown tips of the palm fronds unless the frond is dead. Clipping brown tips may stunt the growth of the frond. Leaving the fronds to brown and fall off on their own is better for the health of the palm.
Palmco offers field-grown Areca and many other spectacular palm trees for sale and can advise you about the care each unique species needs to thrive. Give us a call at (239) 283-1329 for more information.
