Identify a palm .. coconut?

[Rain52]

Can someone identify this palm? I live at the beaches . Jax beach FL ..solid 9b.. It looks too tall for a high plateau ( common around here). Pic taken Nov 2024 in a back yard. Maybe a 1000 feet from the beach..  Looks like a coconut.. 

[Fusca]

Hard to tell without seeing the trunk but it could also be Ravenea rivularis.

[Rain52]

Thanks 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

The leaflets look too thin and shiny to be a Majesty palm. 

That being said, i’d still be astonished if it really was a coco. I have to say it’s either an old Beccariophoenix or maybe Parajubaea?

 

[Rain52]

I need to see if I can get a peek of the trunk. If it is a beccariophoenix, it’s got to be very old. 

[Keybmp]

28 minutes ago, TropicsEnjoyer said:

The leaflets look too thin and shiny to be a Majesty palm. 

That being said, i’d still be astonished if it really was a coco. I have to say it’s either an old Beccariophoenix or maybe Parajubaea?

 

I wouldn’t think it’s a parajubea, they do not like the fl heat 

[STLOUISPALMGUY]

I drive by that place all the time. And I’ve wonder the same. Tho I think it’s a KIng Palm. But if the microclimate is good it could be a coconut. 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Either a coconut or an archontophoenix

[Rain52]

.

[Rain52]

17 minutes ago, STLOUISPALMGUY said:

I drive by that place all the time. And I’ve wonder the same. Tho I think it’s a KIng Palm. But if the microclimate is good it could be a coconut. 

Interesting, I do see some nice kings around, seem most survived the Xmas 22 freeze. also see some trunking hyophorbe verschaffeltil around the beaches, so maybe a coco would survive in a very localize microclimate. 

[Maddox Gardening-youtube]

On 12/18/2024 at 9:24 PM, STLOUISPALMGUY said:

I drive by that place all the time. And I’ve wonder the same. Tho I think it’s a KIng Palm. But if the microclimate is good it could be a coconut. 

What street is it on?

[kylecawazafla]

That's a coconut palm. 

[MikeB]

On 12/18/2024 at 7:55 PM, Rain52 said:

Can someone identify this palm? I live at the beaches . Jax beach FL ..solid 9b.. It looks too tall for a high plateau ( common around here). Pic taken Nov 2024 in a back yard. Maybe a 1000 feet from the beach..  Looks like a coconut.. 

That is Archontophoenix alexandrae.

[tim_brissy_13]

16 hours ago, kylecawazafla said:

That's a coconut palm. 

I’m with Kyle. I’d be shocked if that’s not Cocos nucifera. It’s definitely not Parajubaea or Archontophoenix and doesn’t look like normal Beccariophoenix growth habit to me. 

[MikeB]

It's a King Palm

[Stevetoad]

I don’t see a spear so it looks more coconut like to me but I definitely wouldn’t rule out a king. A slightly better look at it would solve it. 

[Hu Palmeras]

22 hours ago, MikeB said:

Es una palma rey

Very cool my Friend

[tim_brissy_13]

23 hours ago, MikeB said:

It's a King Palm

It’s not really helpful to the original poster if you’re doubling down on an ID as certain and posting a photo of a different palm. If you’re uncertain it’s more helpful to explain your confidence level and why you have your opinion. 

[MikeB]

1 hour ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

It’s not really helpful to the original poster if you’re doubling down on an ID as certain and posting a photo of a different palm. If you’re uncertain it’s more helpful to explain your confidence level and why you have your opinion. 

As much as I wish it were not true coconuts do not grow here.  My neighbor from Miami has been trying for 20 years.  Every year he plants and every year they either die or get set back to the point of decline and eventual death.  Our climate is the same as the palm in question possibly slightly better.  The winters are just not warm enough here.  I'm not saying that it will never happen but if there was a coconut that big the palm community around here would probably know about it.  

About twelve years ago there was a house on the beach in my town that brought full grown (fruiting size) cocos nucifera up from south Florida and they all died the first winter.  I have seen this a few times.  Everyone thinks they are going to be the one to do it.  I like their confidence.  We have all been there with our climate pushing experiments.  

The main reason for my opinion is that the palm in question looks like Archontophoenix.  It also has the look of cold damage and somewhat stunted warm weather regrowth. Typical for this area. The frequency of this pattern depends on how often we get a freeze..  Archontophoenix does much better under canopy here.  I have about 30  A. cunninghamiana planted under canopy.  Most survive and thrive but if I loose one to cold I replant because they are fast growers.  I like the staggered heights look anyway.

For about 5 years some local nurseries have been bringing up large field grown Archontophoenix alexandrae from south Florida by the hundreds.  I'm pretty sure this is one of those trees.  There are a couple threads on Palm Talk about this.

By the way I should have mentioned that the above photo is not mine.  I posted it for comparison.  I thought it was pretty self explanatory.  I hope this helps you.  Whats your opinion?  Is it a coconut?

 

[Hu Palmeras]

10 minutes ago, MikeB said:

As much as I wish it were not true coconuts do not grow here.  My neighbor from Miami has been trying for 20 years.  Every year he plants and every year they either die or get set back to the point of decline and eventual death.  Our climate is the same as the palm in question possibly slightly better.  The winters are just not warm enough here.  I'm not saying that it will never happen but if there was a coconut that big the palm community around here would probably know about it.  

About twelve years ago there was a house on the beach in my town that brought full grown (fruiting size) cocos nucifera up from south Florida and they all died the first winter.  I have seen this a few times.  Everyone thinks they are going to be the one to do it.  I like their confidence.  We have all been there with our climate pushing experiments.  

The main reason for my opinion is that the palm in question looks like Archontophoenix.  It also has the look of cold damage and somewhat stunted warm weather regrowth. Typical for this area. The frequency of this pattern depends on how often we get a freeze..  Archontophoenix does much better under canopy here.  I have about 30  A. cunninghamiana planted under canopy.  Most survive and thrive but if I loose one to cold I replant because they are fast growers.  I like the staggered heights look anyway.

For about 5 years some local nurseries have been bringing up large field grown Archontophoenix alexandrae from south Florida by the hundreds.  I'm pretty sure this is one of those trees.  There are a couple threads on Palm Talk about this.

By the way I should have mentioned that the above photo is not mine.  I posted it for comparison.  I thought it was pretty self explanatory.  I hope this helps you.  Whats your opinion?  Is it a coconut?

 

Archontophoenix and Beccariophoenix Alfredii

[Merlyn]

I'd think Archonto or Beccario are possibilities.  It does look a lot like my 20+ foot Alfredii at the top.  I'll see if I can get a similarly backlit photo of mine tomorrow.

[Hu Palmeras]

Yes, my friend, in Chile I'm growing Archontophoenix Cunningamiana and Archontophoenix Alexandrae. I'm also growing Beccariophoenix Alfredii. They're the palms most similar in shape to Cocos Nucifera. I believe these palms will replace the coconut tree once the poles shift and the climates and seasons change.

[tim_brissy_13]

On 9/3/2025 at 12:38 PM, MikeB said:

As much as I wish it were not true coconuts do not grow here.  My neighbor from Miami has been trying for 20 years.  Every year he plants and every year they either die or get set back to the point of decline and eventual death.  Our climate is the same as the palm in question possibly slightly better.  The winters are just not warm enough here.  I'm not saying that it will never happen but if there was a coconut that big the palm community around here would probably know about it.  

About twelve years ago there was a house on the beach in my town that brought full grown (fruiting size) cocos nucifera up from south Florida and they all died the first winter.  I have seen this a few times.  Everyone thinks they are going to be the one to do it.  I like their confidence.  We have all been there with our climate pushing experiments.  

The main reason for my opinion is that the palm in question looks like Archontophoenix.  It also has the look of cold damage and somewhat stunted warm weather regrowth. Typical for this area. The frequency of this pattern depends on how often we get a freeze..  Archontophoenix does much better under canopy here.  I have about 30  A. cunninghamiana planted under canopy.  Most survive and thrive but if I loose one to cold I replant because they are fast growers.  I like the staggered heights look anyway.

For about 5 years some local nurseries have been bringing up large field grown Archontophoenix alexandrae from south Florida by the hundreds.  I'm pretty sure this is one of those trees.  There are a couple threads on Palm Talk about this.

By the way I should have mentioned that the above photo is not mine.  I posted it for comparison.  I thought it was pretty self explanatory.  I hope this helps you.  Whats your opinion?  Is it a coconut?

 

I’m confident with my opinion above. I would be very surprised if it’s not Cocoa nucifera. I’m as certain as I could be from a distant photo of only the crown that it’s not Archontophoenix. Unless it’s a trick of lighting, the yellow petioles are inconsistent with Archontophoenix and align with Cocos. The crown shape looks inconsistent with Archontophoenix to me too, they don’t really hold multiple upright fronds at a time. The newest expanded frond also doesn’t look like Archontophoenix growth habit to me; they tend to fully send out a spear before expanding whereas Cocos and other cocoids expend while still pushing the spear. Even the frond colour looks typical of Cocos and not like Archontophoenix unless, again, it’s a trick of the light or recent cold damage but I know you’re coming out of summer. 
 

I will say that I’m on the other side of the world and not all across your climate. But from official climate data both average temperate and winter recorded minimums, I’d say there’s a chance short term Cocos could grow especially considering the location close to the ocean relative the the official weather station which is further away. The palm is also clearly close to a large brick structure which helps significantly. On this forum we’re repeatedly told Cocos doesn’t grow in Southern California and while that is maybe generally true, there are documented cases of them there. It only takes one. There was also a photo posted recently of a small Cocos in southern Europe and the only argument against it being Cocos was that they don’t grow there. Appearance wise it was typical. If there’s healthy Hyophorbe out in the open in nearby locations, there’s at least a chance Cocos could grow. 
 

Think we need someone to do a door knock to get a photo of the whole palm. If a photo shows it is Archontophoenix I’ll double my usual Save the Species donation this year. 

[VA Jeff]

On 12/18/2024 at 9:17 PM, Keybmp said:

I wouldn’t think it’s a parajubea, they do not like the fl heat 

I've been growing a trunked Parajubaea sunkha in Brunswick, GA 1 1/2 hr from JAX beach for the past year.  Still looking good.  There are specimens around Gainesville, FL doing fine, I believe.  It's the other parajubaea species that can't take heat.

[peachy]

From where I am sitting right now, looking out the window at 2 different species of Archontophoenix and a Coconut, I think the leaflets on the photographed palm are too narrow for Archontophoenix and too clustered for a Cocos variety. On the other hand Archontophoenix are quite variable, depending on feeding, watering or total neglect.

See how easily I clarified everything ? 

Peachy

[VA Jeff]

Why not knock on the door and ask?  You wouldn't be the first to do such a thing.

[SouthernCATropicals]

My guess is king palm. There are so many king palms here in SoCal and some look so much like coconuts above the crown where I do a double take if I can’t see the crown below a fence. I’ve seen king palms can be very variable in petiole color just like coconuts. The twisting of the fronds just looks too familiar to not be a king palm. Also the fronds are shorter and smaller than I would imagine coconut fronds to be. That’s my guess 😆

[Maddox Gardening-youtube]

On 12/18/2024 at 9:24 PM, STLOUISPALMGUY said:

I drive by that place all the time. And I’ve wonder the same. Tho I think it’s a KIng Palm. But if the microclimate is good it could be a coconut. 

what street is it on?

[Zeeth]

Coconut