What happens when palm reach max height?

[Dan OKeeffe]

I have a small yard in SF and I must negotiate power lines and property lines.  So when placing a palm i consider the height that it will reach.  Yes  I realize it will take forever in most cases to achieve full height, but I would hate to cut one down.  

So here's the question.  I understand that palms grow by pushing out new leaves and the old leaf bases form trunk.  Once a palm reaches max height what happens?  Does it stop pushing out new spears?  Does is slow down or die?...

[PalmGuyWC]

Dan,

Having once lived in San Francisco, I know that palms grow very slowly there because of the cool temps. There are very few palms that grow there that would grow into power lines, but nice that you are thinking of it, because most people don't.

When palms reach maturity, or a certain height, they slow down considerably. All you have to do is look at the growth rings at a tall palm and you can see how much reduced the rings are near the top compaired to the lower ones. All palms have a life span, and some live much longer than others. It's really hard to judge how long a particular species might live, considering they are growing under ideal conditions. Jubaeas are said to live over 1000 years and apparently Parajubaeas can live a long time to.

How about showing us what kinds of palms you are growing?

Dick

[fastfeat]

I agree with Dick. Too bad most people do not plan for palms (or other trees) eventual height when planting near power lines. Having to prune trees for power line clearance is a BIG portion of everyone's power costs and is, of course, bad for trees, especially palms.

Species selection is everything. Tall-growing species in your area (Phoenix, Washingtonia, queens) need to be set back far enough to prevent inevitable collision. Smaller species (Windmills, Med. fan, majesties) can be planted under lines.

Tell us what else your growing for some more help if needed.

[PalmGuyWC]

I have three Brahaea armatas in a group, and one is about to touch the power lines. I never thought they would be a problem in my life time....but I was wrong. ALWAYS look up before you plant a palm, because their growth might surprise you. Look out for those Live Oaks too. If you want your grand children and their children to enjoy the palms......Look up!

Dick

[cobra2326]

I'd like to hear what Bo has to say about this.  Some of his Clinostigmas and Bentinckias are getting really tall.  Will they eventually die?

[bgl]

Thank you Jon, but I can't really add anything to what Dick already mentioned. Keep in mind, I planted the very first palm in our garden here not quite 12 years ago, so it'll be a while before ANY of my palms reach their ultimate height. That being said, every living being will obviously die, and that includes our palm trees. Quite some time ago I started a thread where I asked the question "how old will a palm get?" but it seems to be obvious that there's been very little study into this interesting topic. Apart from a few known individuals (Jubaeas and Royals) that are known to be more than 100 years of age, not much else was found out. I believe palms will slow down somewhat when they reach maturity (and begin to produce fruit) and then there's probably, as Dick mentioned, a gradual slowdown when they approach their ultimate height.

Bo-Göran

[Dan OKeeffe]

Thanks for all the comments.  I started this thread just our of curiosity.  

Dick, I am growing mostly Howeas and someday a few Ceroxylons.  I am going to steer clear of those power lines.  

Thanks

[DoomsDave]

Dan:

You have asked one of those questions that seems simple, but is in fact a Pandora's can of worms scratching the surface of the tip of a massive iceberg of variables.

Some palms do, in fact, get to a certain height and then die.  Washies are like that.  When they reach a certain height, they become unable to transfer water from the roots to the leaves, and the single growing dies for lack of water.

Others, like Serenoa and Chamaerops, lean over and root on the ground and grow again.

Others, like Chamadorea plumosa, shoot up fast to their max height, then try to reproduce for a long time, without getting any taller.

Some, like Caryota urens, shoot max height, set seed in a giant orgy, then die from that.

Others, like royals, get tall, then get struck by lightning.

Are there any species you have in mind?

That would narrow things a bit.

[Dan OKeeffe]

Dave,

I am mostly interested in Howea and Ceroxylons.   I also have Chambeyronias and Hedyscepes but who knows when they will max out.  Good thing I am still under 30 yrs maybe someday I will know.

THanks

[SoulofthePlace]

Great thread. First of all, always remember - look up for power lines and for chemtrails. Secondly, the question still stands - when palm tree, say Washingotnia robusta (which can be observed in anyone's lifetime) reaches its mature height, it slows its growth down, that is understandable, but it still has to grow new fronds every year. Does that mean the fronds are smaller at maturity, shorter, flatter? Is there a certain height for a palm tree to get fixated, say 90 ft. and then it stays at 90ft. for many years and if it does how does it produce new fronds if it does not grow taller? Or does it die when it stops growing? And can we see some photos of those tall dead Mexican fan palms that died from age and not from disease or lightning strike? Did they dry up and fell on house roofs in some cases? And how much does it cost in California to remove a huge and dead 100 footer robusta?

[tropicbreeze]

You can only assume this one died of old age. It had a good few years on the current tallest nearby.

On a related question, does anyone know what the maximum height for African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) is?