What is the largest overall palm?

[NApalm]

G'day palmsters,

I've got a spot with a dying A. cunninghamiana which would be perfect for a MONSTER palm. So I started to Google in search of the largest overall palm. I found the largest diameter trunk (Jubea sp.) Tallest palms (Ceroxylons in Columbia) and so on. The more I searched, the more I realised my question was very difficult to answer. The tallest is not the widest overall (canopy area provided) nor the fattest trunk and so on. So I thought I'd call on the global knowledge that is palmtalk, and ask your opinions.

The question is this... What is the overall largest palm you have seen or read about etc? Im talking widdest overall diameter (canopy), mixed with height etc. There's no real right or wrong answer here, but im intrigued as to which GIANTS are out there. Who takes out the title?

[DoomsDave]

Borassus

Tahina

Raphia (not wide but TALL)

Why not get something colorful, and fill the senses without taking a lot of space?

[Pando]

In addition to Dave's list:

Corypha umbraculifera - heights of up to 25 m (82 ft) with stems up to 1.3 m (4.25 ft) in diameter

Jubaea chilensis - heights of 25 metres (82 ft) with a trunk up to 1.3 metres (4.3 ft) in diameter at the base

Ceroxylon quindiuense - height of 50 m (160 ft)—or rarely, even as high as 60 m (200 ft)—making it the tallest palm and by extension the tallest monocot in the world

(from Wikipedia)

[Sabal Steve]

I always thought that Corypha's were the beefiest palm all around, generally speaking.

[NApalm]

I love it! Keep throwing em out.

Dave, I've focused on colour as a theme of my yard. This spot is right up the back near a fence in the corner. It's out of the way enough to put a juggernaut in and not effect everything else. I'm not psyched about the leaves crushing all below but hey, thems the brakes.

[Hilo Jason]

Caryota Gigas / Obtusa is another big one not mentioned above.

[Kostas]

I think Borassus aethiopum is the best choice overall as it grows huge in truk diameter and canopy diameter and also very tall. Speed of growth is ok.

Caryota obtusa/gigas is another great one as Jason mentioned for huge trunk and canopy size, doesn't grow too tall usually but is fast and impressive. Drawback is its monocarpic.

Attalea such as A. rostrata or A. colenda are monsters as well, but slow to get there.

[Richie]

Maybe not the biggest , but an Atallea would make an impressive feature in the back yard .

[Coconutman]

Phoenix canariensis

Washingtonia filifera

Bismarckia nobilis

These usually catches my eye from their girth and occurrence.

[NApalm]

Thanks Pando, Sabal Steve, Dave, Jason, Kostas, Ritchie and Coconutman for your suggestions. There are some big units listed there. Some of them I'd had my eye on for my short list and some new ones. Much appreciated.

[Pip]

  On 3/1/2015 at 8:49 AM, Coconutman said:

Phoenix canariensis

Washingtonia filifera

Bismarckia nobilis

These usually catches my eye from their girth and occurrence.

Bismarckia nobilis yes but Phoenix canariensis and Washingtonia filifera are a very Mediterranean solution to NApalm's question. I'm having trouble deciding on what I'd choose to plant in the described location as the climate allows success for so many palms.

[Daryl]

Corypha umbraculifera always seems to dominate with its size, but the overall largest palm I ever saw was Attalea cohune in Darwin Botanical Gardens. The thing was absolutely massive! That would be my pick, and they grow pretty well here as well. I went through a phase of planting 'monsters' at home. All of the Attaleas have done really well. Borassus is a little slow and if it gets shaded out by faster species, grows even slower! Corypha utan grows quickly here, but C.umbraculifera is slower and trickier to grow in cooler climates. All of the cultivated Raphia I have seen never reach absolutely massive proportions, but are still quite large. I have a Jubaea next to my Borassus aethiopium, that really needs to be moved...was only supposed to be a temporary planting to get it back to health, but time gets away...Roystonea oleracea can be a big unit when well grown. Tahina is quite large too and grows well here. Mauritia flexuosa is a massive palm but a bit tender. Same goes for some of those Eugeissona...they can get very large, but are very tender and not ideal garden plants for a few reasons... Lodoicea can be large too...good luck finding one though!

My top three for BNE would be:

Attalea (any species)

Corypha utan

Tahina spectabilis

Hope this helps..

[Ken Johnson]

Roystonia came to my mind.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I'd grow Attalea if I had the climate. But a big Talipot is about the largest circumference palm I've ever encountered. Alas, it's monocarpic too. But it might be 40-50 years before removal would be an issue.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

And, you could still inter plant with R oleraceae allowing them to develop a big, tall white trunk to contrast the dark foliage of the Attalea.

[Alicehunter2000]

  On 3/1/2015 at 10:39 AM, Daryl said:

My top three for BNE would be:

Attalea (any species)

Corypha utan

Tahina spectabilis

Hope this helps..

Ditto what Daryl said

[NApalm]

Cheers guys! All very helpful! I'll do a little research on those sp. Some big guys there

[virtualpalm]

Nuff said

[Josh-O]

Corypha umbraculifera is my vote

[NApalm]

Corypha sp. Jody?

[DoomsDave]

Whoa

Large units of land

I sure hope

Heaven FORBID

you impose a monster on a nice 'hood that didn't do nothing to deserve it

sORRY

whoa

Soapbox collapsed

[Kennybenjamin]

Arenga pinnata is big fella but yes I would agree that the largest I have seen is C. Umbraculifera

[PalmatierMeg]

Maybe not in the same league but I saw a Beccariophoenix alfredii in Dale Holton's yard that was a true monster - huge girth, long, long fronds

[Explorer]

Coryphas are the largest! And I have seen C. umbrauculifera and C. utan in habitat.

Alexander

[NApalm]

Good intel people. So I've settled on Arenga pinnata and Attalea cohune! This is based on availability and seeing a sweet pinnata at the pacsoa show in the mt cootha botanical gardens. Some planting pics to follow.

[BS Man about Palms]

How about a triple prestoniana?

[Kennybenjamin]

Triple 1 leaf presto's can be arranged NApalm!!

Would go nicely with the triple 1 leaf pilulifera you already have!!

[NApalm]

It would indeed.

[Daryl]

Here's a couple of photos of my young Attalea cohune...

I really am impressed with this species...such a beautiful palm...even if it does get to monster proportions!

[steve99]

Here's a pic of my Arenga Pinnata before it succumb to a bad frost 5-6 years ago. It was about 10 years old when this pic was taken in 2007. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't plant anything within about 5m of it because it was a "gross feeder" and severely restricted the growth rate of other plants closeby. Then again, that probably applies to most big palms.

[NApalm]

Beautiful pics guys. That has cemented my decision. Good to know about the 5m radius steve. I'll keep that in mind when companion planting but theres only one spot with enough room to put him. So it'll be survival of the fittest.

[Walter John]

Good choices, I see you have got some ready, there a few Corypha utans available too, saw them at the PACSOA show. Arenga westerhoutii another. Always a fun thread nominating monster palms, never forget some monster Caryotas either.

[LJG]

Corypha lecomtei at Nong Nooch.

Nong Nooch is a great place to really compare the monsters. I saw so many of the ones mentioned here, but the reality is no palm is larger than a Corypha.

[NApalm]

That pic is NUTS Ljg! I wouldn't mind squishing him in somewhere but it might just be beyond the limits (as much as it pains me to admit it).

I do love a good Caryota Wal. I was tempted by the gigas. That Arenga looks interesting. I'll have to research it a little more. Thanks for the tip.

[Tropicgardener]

Definitely Corypha umbraculifera........... The one at the Palmetum is enormous !! Problem is getting rid of the monster 20 tonne trunk when they do die !!

[waykoolplantz]

I have a nice grouping of 5 Talipots and a also few Raphia..but Jeff took me to a hidden corner at his nursery and showd me a mauritia flexuosa that got lots of water.....it's huge and if the area is wet should be considered

[Daryl]

Here's a couple taken at the same place as Len's photo, funnily enough, at about the same time...

Youngish Attalea

Corypha lecomptei with Palmgrover and elephant for scale...

[NApalm]

As dooms dave would say...

AGAD!!!

[Dmcdonald]

  On 3/18/2015 at 2:07 PM, Daryl said:

Here's a couple taken at the same place as Len's photo, funnily enough, at about the same time...

Youngish Attalea

DSC_9226.jpg

Corypha lecomptei with Palmgrover and elephant for scale...

DSC_9283.jpg

That picture with the elephant is amazing. I hope to see my little Corypha umbraculifera someday get that big.