Palm canopy size

[Than]

Perhaps it would be useful to gather data on canopy sizes for different palm species. Definitely useful for those planning a garden atm.

For instance, what would be the diameter of an average size Archontophoenix's canopy when mature? 

Edited April 4, 2022 by ego

[Merlyn]

I agree, this was one of the most frustrating things when I was trying to plan my landscaping.  I'd find all kinds of information about petiole and rachis length, and I could "guesstimate" the overall diameter based on that and the trunk diameter.  But I could rarely find an actual "typical diameter" for a palm.  For example, an Attalea Cohune has frond length up to 32 feet, but the typical diameter is only about 10-20 feet here in Florida.  They just can't hold a complete crown anywhere outside the tropics and grow in a "shuttlecock" shape here.  Palmpedia has a lot of typical diameters, and my best solution was to add up the frond length using petiole + rachis + 1/2 trunk diameter (or petiole + 1/2 fan diameter + 1/2 trunk diameter for fan palms) and then compare it to photos to guess the final diameter.

[aztropic]

Even knowing a future canopy size doesn't have to deter a planting,if you really want to try a species. I've had to tye up a few of my palms fronds in tight areas,until they were tall enough not to create problems around them. Fan type palms exclusively,are the only ones I've ever had to restrain.Here are 2 Copernicias,still waiting on their release...

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

[Than]

1 hour ago, aztropic said:

Even knowing a future canopy size doesn't have to deter a planting,if you really want to try a species. I've had to tye up a few of my palms fronds in tight areas,until they were tall enough not to create problems around them. Fan type palms exclusively,are the only ones I've ever had to restrain.Here are 2 Copernicias,still waiting on their release...

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

Don't those leaves receive less light?

[aztropic]

Absolutely! But the palms STILL grow, nonetheless. Copernicia berteroana, next to the macroglossa, was tied up until just 2 years ago. Now,it's flowering...

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[sonoranfans]

55 minutes ago, ego said:

Don't those leaves receive less light?

Yes there will be less photosynthesis but plants also lose more water by transpiration that is triggered by sun exposure.  The mechanism is that bright light stimulates an opening of the stomata.  The purpose is that water transpiration cools the leaf in a protective mechanism not terribly different than the way perspiration and evaporation of that perspiration cools human blood.  Too much heat leads to production of peroxides which oxidize lipids in cell walls and precipitate plant cell death.  In a hot and dry climate, tying palms up can makes a lot of sense to protect your palm from getting desiccated when its root system is not big enough to take up more water than the plant can transpire.  Photosynthesis generates heat and that heat is controlled mainly by transpiration of water from leaves.  If your palm cannot take up water faster than it loses it in transpiration, tying it up can save the palm till it can grow that bigger root system needed to take up enough water to cool itself.  Cutting leaves off will also limit transpiration but you also lose that valuable sap that the plant has worked hard to make so its a bigger setback to over trim.  I would not tie up a palm in a humid area like florida for very long(dry spring would be the only time), it might get a fungal infection from too much continual dampness.  

[edbrown_III]

I had to chainsaw some L> chinensis  and L. sari bus and dig some others ----

 

[edbrown_III]

I did this 20 years ago and 10 years ago----- 

chainsawed some Cycas taitugensis  too---- 

 

sucess catches up with ye