The Christmas Palm (also known Adonidia Palm, or Adonidia Merrillii) is one of the most beautiful, fast growing, tropical canopy palms. It's no wonder that it is one of the most popular palm species in the world! It is compact yet lush and it looks like the quintessential palm tree, with a thin trunk and rich, arching fronds. It is a very commonly seen palm in Florida landscapes because of its nature as a tropical palm and its year-round beauty. The good news is the Christmas Palm can also be planted in colder temperatures as a patio or indoor palm.
Physical Characteristics
The Christmas Palm has an abundance of feathery fronds made up of pinnate leaves that gracefully arch over thin, tall trunks, which can grow up to 6 inches thick. These palms come in single, double, or triple trunk varieties. Their compact trunk and lush fronds bring shade and tropical charm to confined as well as open spaces.
Adding to their beauty, they bloom with gorgeous cream-colored flower clusters that form beneath the crownshaft and will eventually turn green and then finally red. Christmas Palms earn their name from the bright red berries that typically ripen around the holiday season. These bright red fruits create a striking contrast against the green fronds, resembling festive Christmas decorations. In fact, you can even bring your Christmas Palm indoors during winter as a unique alternative to a traditional Christmas tree.
Aside from its common name (Christmas Palm) this Philippines native is also called the Manila Palm, Adonidia Palm, Kerpis Palm, Dwarf Royal Palm and Veitchia Merrillii.
Aside from its common name (Christmas Palm) this Philippines native is also called the Manila Palm, Adonidia Palm, Kerpis Palm, Dwarf Royal Palm and Veitchia Merrillii.
Christmas Palm Planting
These lush tropical plants are typically limited to warmer regions, usually seen in USDA zones 10-11 planted on the ground. However, since they can be easily grown in containers, they can also be planted in grow zones 4-11 as Patio Palms. You can bring these tropical beauties indoors during the colder season and enjoy them year-round! Christmas Palms look great wherever they are placed. They are stellar statement palms, near pools or bodies of water and in pots in patios and decks.
The Christmas Palm It is the perfect palm for instantly elevating your pool or patio, as a staging prop for an event, or adding ambience to your business environment or special event. With its effortless allure, the Christmas Palm will create an instant atmosphere, as if you were in a South Florida resort!
Basic Care for Christmas Palm
Christmas Palms are pest and disease-resistant, and require minimal effort in terms of care and maintenance.
Sunlight: Christmas Palms can grow in full sun as well as partial shade. If indoors, be sure to place beside a window where it receives plenty of light.
Water: For the first month, water twice a week. Once established, they only need to be watered once a week unless it rains. Be wary of overwatering and poor drainage, as it can cause root rot.
Fertilization: Fertilize three times a year: in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Use a general-purpose palm fertilizer, and be sure to follow the label instructions.
Soil: As most palm trees, Christmas Palms require well-draining soil. A 70% soil, 30% coarse sand mix is best.
Pruning: It is not necessary to prune your Christmas Palm. When a frond dies, it will detach and fall off on its own. However, if you decide to prune the brown frond before it naturally falls off, be careful not to do so when there is still some green color remaining in the frond.
Christmas Palm Growth Rate
The Christmas Palm Tree is a fast growing palm, at a rate of 2-4 feet per year until it reaches around 6 feet, and then the growth slows down. When outdoors and in optimal conditions it can grow up to a mature height of 25 feet, with a canopy spread of up to 8 feet. If planted in a container as an indoor or patio palm, it can grow up to 10 feet tall.
What are the Benefits of Christmas Palms
The Christmas Palm has many positive attributes, we list some here:
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Low Maintenance: They are a breeze to maintain, fronds don't need pruning since they are self-cleaning and when established, they are also resistant to salt spray and drought tolerant.
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Instant Tropical Beauty: Because of its exuberant green fronds overflowing its thin trunk, it creates an effortless tropical vibe.
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Adaptable: Christmas Palms are a favorite, as they adapt to most soils and landscapes. They look wonderful in both large landscapes as shade palms planted in groups, as well as planted by themselves in compact landscapes.
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Fast Growing: You can purchase a small palm and in a few years you have a decent sized palm in your yard- it has an average growth of 1-2 feet per year!
Where can I buy a Christmas Palm?
It is recommendable to buy your palms from a reputable seller, such as Atlanta Palms. At Atlanta Palms, you can find Christmas Palms in a variety of sizes, and sometimes even at a sale price. Not sure where to plant it? We have a team of tropical plant experts ready to help you decide which size palm is right for you. Check out our other palms such as the Areca Palm or Ponytail Palm if you want lo combine your palm with other species. If you are not sure, check out our customer reviews and see for yourself.
FAQ
Why is it called a Christmas Palm?
It is called a Christmas Palm because of the bright red fruits that appear around the holiday season. The contrast these red colored fruits and the deep green luscious fronds remind us of Christmas decorations.
Is the Christmas Palm Cold hardy?
Although the Christmas Palm tolerates somewhat chilly weather, it is not considered cold hardy and needs to be brought indoors if temperatures fall below 40°F.
What is the difference between a Christmas Palm and a Royal Palm?
The Christmas Palm and Royal Palm are similar in that they are both are common palms seen in South Florida. The Christmas Palm is also called a Dwarf Royal Palm because of its similar look to the Royal Palm. The main difference these two palms have is how tall they grow when mature. Whereas the Christmas Palm grows up to 25 feet maximum, a Royal Palm can grow up to 80 feet tall! Another difference is the Royal Palm cannot be planted indoors, whereas the Christmas Palm makes a great indoor palm.
What is lethal yellowing and how do I prevent my Christmas Palm from getting it?
Lethal Yellowing is very complicated to treat if your palm gets it. The thing about this disease is it is hard to tell apart from usual yellowing of palm leaves due to insufficient watering and nutrient deficiency. Lethal Yellowing is caused by a bacteria that causes a yellowing and drooping of the palms, starting from the lower fronds and finishing with those on the crown of the palm tree. If untreated, lethal yellowing will kill the palm tree.
