How far from the tree do royal boots fall?

[junglegalfla]

I am trying to decide whether to plant a royal in my back yard. I bought a 15 gal but now I am really hesitating because I saw some mature ones in a garden last weekend.

I know the deal about the falling boots. How far due they generally fall from the palm? I have power lines to contend with.  

Thanks

[DoomsDave]

Ah, yes, the bane.

Louis Hooper had a huge R. oleracea right next to his driveway, and it dropped those boots, and they dented his cars.

They were so heavy (60 pounds) they didn't fall far from the tree, i.e., almost straight down, even with the dead leaf attached.

I suppose a strong wind might also move them further, but they're SO heavy . . . .  It would take a really strong wind, which I know you get there sometimes.

dave

[glbower]

All of mine have touched down within 3 or 4 feet of the trunk (except for the ones that blew off during Hurricane Charley; they are probably in orbit). I have watched several fall and they make quite an impact. On mine, the heavy end, the leaf base, has always landed first and the rest of the leaf sort of sprawls over from there. I have 2 Roystonia. borinquenas, a Thrinax parviflora, a Livistona boninensis, a Ptychosperma lineare, an Archontophoenix alexandrae and a Caryotya urens growing within range. The area is full of rebars critically positioned to keep the smaller ones from getting squashed.

[Scott Mcintosh]

If you can plant the Royal 15' from the power lines you will be ok with the leaves (you dont want them to touch the power lines) And yes anything within 6' of the trunk will be hit.

[DoomsDave]

(Scott Mcintosh @ Aug. 29 2007,16:08)

QUOTE

If you can plant the Royal 15' from the power lines you will be ok with the leaves (you dont want them to touch the power lines) And yes anything within 6' of the trunk will be hit.

Yeah, Louis' was next to his driveway.

Those monstrous things made some pretty serious dents in the metal roofs of his cars and minivan.  I don't even want to think about a conk on the cranium . . . .

[junglegalfla]

I think I royally (pun intended   ) over estimated my planting space. I am just so in awe of these giants and desperately want a canopy. Looks like I'll be trying to unload this one on craig's list and cutting my loss.

Larry, by chance want another?  

[Mike Evans]

Plant it on the property line & let it them fall on the neighbors property.

[spockvr6]

(junglegalfla @ Aug. 29 2007,17:29)

QUOTE

Larry, by chance want another?  

You evil temptress!

I think I am pretty much "Royal'ed out" up here as I have a dozen in the ground on my small new construction sized lot!

[junglegalfla]

Larry,

You are a brave man!  

Mike,

Dang, was hoping you wouldn't see this post   I screwed up   Hope your not mad that one of your own isn't going to end up where intended. I just am having visions of my animals or myself getting taken out by a way ward boot. I have the space to clear the power lines but my other palms would be in the target zone.

[MattyB]

Plant archontophoenix next to it to catch the falling leaves.

[lpandroc]

hi..

im up in palm harbor..how much do u want for the thing...i have no way to pick it up..unfortunately

[Jeff in St Pete]

Bren, go ahead and plant it!  You have plenty of room.  It's going to be quite a few years until you have to worry about bootjacks falling from a huge tree.

[DoomsDave]

(Jeff in Costa Rica @ Aug. 29 2007,21:17)

QUOTE

Bren, go ahead and plant it!  You have plenty of room.  It's going to be quite a few years until you have to worry about bootjacks falling from a huge tree.

That is true, though when it's tall, it's when the need for Depends (walkers, etc) creeps in, maybe you have some grankids you can blackmail . . .

[Kris]

Dear Bren  

kindly keep that jamboo in the pot or big barrel itself.it is real hazzard for small residential gardens.and the boots fall based on the wind blowing intensity.

and those palms are to be placed in gardens which are huge and no small plants growing under its feet !

we did fell around 2 coconut trees & 3 royals in our garden since it used to break the windscreen glass of neighbour cars & also those who parked cars in front of our house.

My suggestion will be a big no to grounding those jamboo's.

love,

Kris  

[Dave-Vero]

Umm, I'm growing Archontophoenix and Carpentaria on the notion that they're more appropriately sized for my yard.

[junglegalfla]

Umm, thanks for the input Dave, that makes two of us actually. :cool:

[TikiRick]

This monster drops fronds about 10 foot from the trunk...more so in a thunderstorm of course. Remember that even the fronds can break off prematurely and crush tender tropicals beneath. I wouldn't trade it for the world though. It is my anchor!

[junglegalfla]

Rick,

I love your yard, great inspiration!

[bubba]

During Wilma we saw a Royal boot flying down the street together with numerous cocoanut cannon-balls.

[Dave-Vero]

One of the astonishing things about Sabal palmetto is that dead leaves and even inflorescences tend to stay on the tree in storms.  On the other hand, I think squirrels looking for nesting material dumped a ton of stuff from one of my cabbages recently.  Quite a cleanup.  

Rick's yard reminds me of a famous one in Brevard County, nearly all palms and bromeliads, with a sort of native-plants hedge bordering the nearby park.

[SunnyFl]

(junglegalfla @ Aug. 29 2007,13:37)

QUOTE

I know the deal about the falling boots. How far due they generally fall from the palm?

That depends on what category the hurricane is

Sorry, couldn't resist - but if your lot is smallish like mine, maybe you could use foxies instead?  They might be easier to place than the big royals.

As for powerlines - grrrrr.  The county stuck a new one in my front yard, draped the line right over my riv and I had to move it (the riv, not the powerline).  Doncha wish they'd bury the stupid things  

[ruskinPalms]

I love royals too much to not grow one in my tiny yard. Try grouping royals with other palms tough enough to take a hit. A coconut or Bismarckia underplanted by a Royal could probably break the fall of the boots sufficiently to protect plants planted under the bizzy and/or coconut. A three teir planting system may be in order. Or else put the Royal all by itself with a 20 foot radius...That does not seem like much fun.

[PalmsZA]

Hi Bren

A mate of mine has many big royals in his garden. He takes his ladder and pulls the leaf off before it falls, if you only have one then you would have to do it very often, so plant away!!!

A palm garden without a royal is a sad sight (unless your yard is really tiny), Ricks front yard would look very different without his beaut there!

Cheers

Dennis

[junglegalfla]

Well here are a couple pics of where I was going to plant it. Pink X marks the spot

[TikiRick]

Oh, hell yes. Plant it. You won't have the falling boot situation for about 5 years from now. I have invented a prototype to keep the boots from falling off of Royals. I am gonna be RICH! (Not.)

[Kris]

Dear Bren  

I beg you don't do it,its gona crush all the little guys bellow its foot area.and they will suck out all the water and minerals from the soil too.keep that jamboo in pots itself !

love,

Kris  

By the way here are few still of that baby that's in our garden for years...

[Kris]

the royal is in the last left hand corner in the above still,and in this still kindly watch its belly...and those palms were and will be there for a long long time !

[Al in Kona]

My Roystonea venezuelana (they say that's a form of R. oleracea) drops its heavy boot very close to the trunk area and then the leaf part often spreads out further but doesn't do much damage (except to tender small plants).  My other R. oleracea is planted in an area by itself with no plants directly below so no problem there. These are beautiful stately palms.  I'd hate to be without them.  Just look at how nice that Royal looks in Ricks front garden (see pic above).   Your eyes are immediately drawn toward it.  It adds that verticle element giving height to the garden.  

I know it's a hard decision but do what you really think is best.  Maybe you could find another palm that would serve a similar purpose for that spot.

[bgl]

Bren,

Not wanting to be the party pooper here, but as impressive as Royals are, I don't really feel they're appropriate for small gardens. If your garden is large enough to accomodate one, well, only you can decide that. Rick's garden is spectacular, but being that it's right next to the street, you get a completely different perspective on his impressive Royal, and it can obviously be viewed from a distance. Looking at the photos you posted with the 'x' the first thought that crossed my mind wasn't the potential destruction a falling palmfrond can cause (even though that's certainly something that you need to consider), but what effect will a large Royal have on your other plants and palms that will eventually be completely shaded out. If you're looking for canopy, there are other palms that are at least as fast growing and won't produce such heavy fronds. I'm curious if Actinorhytis calapparia will make it in your location? Not sure if this palm has been discussed lately. It's a great looking slender palm that's faster than just about anything but a Pigafetta. Mine have been adding about 4 ft of trunk per year. And the fronds are very lightweight and cause absolutely no damage when they fall. Also, the leaflets are fairly thin and will let the rain thru.

Bo-Göran

[junglegalfla]

Well, after much consideration, I've decided to not plant the royal. This morning it is going to a new home at a fellow palm head's larger lot.  Farewell Mr. Royal, I hardly knew ya *sniff* :laugh:

[Logolight]

Rick, how many monkeys live in that jungle?

[TikiRick]

(Logolight @ Sep. 01 2007,12:18)

QUOTE

Rick, how many monkeys live in that jungle?

Are you including my neighbor's kids?