Syagrus romanzoffiana

[gavilan1]

Forgive me for deciding to share this, but I was watering the palms at home yesterday at sunset and noticed how nice the trunk on my plain old Queen palm was looking in the golden light.

[gavilan1]

I wish that I knew how to post images so that they'd appear larger...  note the self-cleaning trunk on this queen.

[gavilan1]

One last look...

(Wendi, the seed that you received came from this palm)

[merrill]

Hi, Doug:

The fruit color of your Queen is interesting.  It has the reddest queen fruit  I've seen.  How is their flavor? IMHO, red is associated w/ better flavor in Butia.  Best Wishes, merrill

[gavilan1]

If my German Shepard could talk...  She actually loves the Queen fruit almost as much as the macadamia nuts that she scarfs regularly.  I've been asked this before, and they do look tasty, but I haven't tried them - something about seeking occasional Rattus rattus climbing the tree fronds at night that discourages me.  I'll clean some tomorrow and give you my opinion.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Shows just how beautiful a queen palm can be. No appollogies neccessary, Doug, for showing us your stunning queen.

[rubyz]

Absolutely beautiful! Yet another species I must procure!

[PalmGuyWC]

Doug,

That's a beautiful "plain old Queen Palm." I wish mine would self clean, but the old fronds on mine turn brown and then hang down for quite a long time.  They are almost impossible to pull off until their ready. Often times in a winter storm several fronds and the old bloom spikes come down all at once and smash the plants below them. Doug, do you help yours along or just wait for mother nature? Most of mine are to tall to reach the old fronds.

S romanzoffiana may be common but it's still one of the prettiest and easy to grow Syagrus. I have a cultivated area under one of mine and it seems every seed germinates.  I'm forever pulling up seedlings, and they seem to be germinating all the time.

Dick

[Howeadypsis]

Thats a good looking palm!

[FRITO]

wow that one sure does have some seed. good looking palm. I am trying these in my area which is borderline.

[Tad]

(rubyz @ May 11 2007,03:56)

QUOTE

Absolutely beautiful! Yet another species I must procure!

i think you already have them

[Breadfruit Bill]

(palmotrafficante @ May 11 2007,16:02)

QUOTE

(rubyz @ May 11 2007,03:56)

QUOTE

Absolutely beautiful! Yet another species I must procure!

i think you already have them

I was thinking the same thing!  

Beautiful specimen Doug!  A well taken care of Syagrus romanzoffiana really can be attractive and showy in its own right!

[gavilan1]

Thanks for all of the kind words.  The sheaths do remove themselves on this palm at this age.  I do remember having to cut the sheaths from the trunk with a sharp box cutter when this palm first began trunking.  Nowadays this queen shows appreciation for all of the TLC that it received from me in its early days, cleanly releasing the sheaths and dead fronds.  Occasionally, a plant in the nearby planter takes a direct hit, but usually doesn't get killed, and it's all worth it when I see this queen towering in its corner of the yard.

Merrill, I tried the fruit and it tastes surprisingly sweet, like a near ripe (but not quite ready) mango.  Just as stringy, too, but the flesh is kind of sticky.  You could probably make jam from the fruit.  Not enough flesh on each one to give my cherimoyas any competition as fruit, though.  My wife says it tastes like dates to her.  I say mango.

[Exotic Life]

Hi,

I like queen palms, this one is also very beautifull

Robbin