Phoenix Palm suckers

[Reyes Vargas]

I have a question for you guys.  I have a phoenix hybrid palm that has suckers and I would like to remove them to leave just the mother palm.  I'm not trying to save the offsets to plant I just want a single palm.  What is the best way as not to hurt the mother palm?  Any help is appreciated.

This is the palm in question.  I know it's a mess.

 

[TheMadScientist]

I have the same suckering problem but on a P. Theophrasti.  I try and keep these reoccurring suckers trimmed about once a month.  It was a big problem when this was younger as the monster thorns would "stick it to me".  I cannot use my hedge shears with long handles as it isn't sharp enough, so I find myself using my pole saw or hand pruners.

[Phoenikakias]

Reciprocating saw with fine blade

[Brucer]

You will be cutting them forever.

Get rid of the palm. Plant again.

From experience.

[Reyes Vargas]

4 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

Reciprocating saw with fine blade

Thank you I will absolutely try that.

[Reyes Vargas]

2 hours ago, Brucer said:

You will be cutting them forever.

Get rid of the palm. Plant again.

From experience.

I will definitely not get rid of the palm.  Of all the Phoenix hybrid palms this is the only one that is like this.  If I can't remove them I'll just leave it as is.

This is the palm in question.  It's the one in the far right.  It doesn't look bad just would like a single palm.  If I have to cut the suckers forever I'm cool with that.

Thanks for you input.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Reyes Vargas

[Phoenikakias]

8 hours ago, Reyes Vargas said:

I will definitely not get rid of the palm.  Of all the Phoenix hybrid palms this is the only one that is like this.  If I can't remove them I'll just leave it as is.

This is the palm in question.  It's the one in the far right.  It doesn't look bad just would like a single palm.  If I have to cut the suckers forever I'm cool with that.

Thanks for you input.

It does look like a cross between reclinata and roebelenii.

[Reyes Vargas]

26 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

It does look like a cross between reclinata and roebelenii.

Interesting.  I always thought it was was a cross between a reclinata and rupicola.  I bought these from Florida as pure rupicola but no Phoenix from Florida is pure nowadays.

[Phoenikakias]

1 hour ago, Reyes Vargas said:

Interesting.  I always thought it was was a cross between a reclinata and rupicola.  I bought these from Florida as pure rupicola but no Phoenix from Florida is pure nowadays.

If you post a close up of petiole spines we may have another clue about its true ID. A juvenile reclinata x roebelenii when grown in a greenhouse (high air humity) I assure you it can be easily mistaken for a rupicola.

[96720]

You will just have to be diligent in removing the suckers but it can be done will not hurt the palm. This is a suckering palm with removing suckers diligently I believe it’s a rupicola

[Reyes Vargas]

15 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

If you post a close up of petiole spines we may have another clue about its true ID. A juvenile reclinata x roebelenii when grown in a greenhouse (high air humity) I assure you it can be easily mistaken for a rupicola.

Here are a couple close up pictures of the spines.

[Reyes Vargas]

14 hours ago, 96720 said:

You will just have to be diligent in removing the suckers but it can be done will not hurt the palm. This is a suckering palm with removing suckers diligently I believe it’s a rupicola

That is a nice looking palm.  Rupicola does not sucker so that is a hybrid but still a nice palm.

[Phoenikakias]

17 hours ago, Reyes Vargas said:

Here are a couple close up pictures of the spines.

reclinata x roebelenii hybrid has yellowish more vicious spines. So yours may be truly a rupicola x reclinata.