Seedling ID?

[Slifer00]

It appears to prefer soggier soils and dappled sunlight. Grows out wavy fronds, even from the first strap leaf. About 5 months old. 35cm / 14in.  Could be anything, I don't even recall where the seed came from. Thank you

[JD in the OC]

Maybe a royal palm? Where was the seed collected?

[happypalms]

Syagrus romanzifollia?

[Slifer00]

20 hours ago, happypalms said:

Syagrus romanzifollia?

Looks like it, thanks

[Fusca]

On 7/22/2025 at 11:51 AM, Slifer00 said:

It appears to prefer soggier soils and dappled sunlight. Grows out wavy fronds, even from the first strap leaf. About 5 months old. 35cm / 14in.  Could be anything, I don't even recall where the seed came from. Thank you

Can you expose the seed under the soil?  That would be the best way to ID.  Really hard to say since many seedlings look similar at that size.  Syagrus seeds are fairly large, Roystonea are small and Phoenix seeds look like coffee beans.  

[Slifer00]

I couldn't locate the seed when I carefully transplanted . Likely rotted away, or otherwise may have been a smaller seed

[Fusca]

41 minutes ago, Slifer00 said:

I couldn't locate the seed when I carefully transplanted . Likely rotted away, or otherwise may have been a smaller seed

Yes, the seedling has likely used up the nourishment from the seed.  If it were Syagrus romanzoffiana you would still have at least some of the hard "shell" of the seed remaining for some time in the soil.  Makes me think that JD is right with Roystonea.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

That looks like my Roystonea seedling. If the seed was presumably smallish that would make sense. 

[gyuseppe]

It doesn't look like Syagrus r., Syagrus with broader leaves

[Slifer00]

On 7/26/2025 at 4:17 AM, TropicsEnjoyer said:

That looks like my Roystonea seedling. If the seed was presumably smallish that would make sense. 

The stem is turning in to a dark red hue, almost like a washy robusta. Though the bottom remains white. Growth is still coming out floppy as expected.

[Slifer00]

11 minutes ago, Slifer00 said:

The stem is turning in to a dark red hue, almost like a washy robusta. Though the bottom remains white. Growth is still coming out floppy as expected.

Here is a close up of the stem, ignore the support wire

[tim_brissy_13]

Could be Washingtonia. You’ll know in the next couple of fronds if so. 

[Tyrone]

I’m saying Roystonea myself. Which one I don’t know. If you have Roystonea regia in the area I’d say that’s it. 

[Fusca]

I remember Roystonea borinquena being colorful as a seedling.  Last couple of photos in Palmpedia looks like a match!

https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Roystonea_borinquena

[gyuseppe]

no Washingtonia

[Tyrone]

10 hours ago, Tyrone said:

I’m saying Roystonea myself. Which one I don’t know. If you have Roystonea regia in the area I’d say that’s it. 

Looking again at the picture, it doesn’t appear to be going bifid. Roystonea would be going bifid by that stage. It could be Washingtonia. 

[gyuseppe]

1 hour ago, Tyrone said:

Looking again at the picture, it doesn’t appear to be going bifid. Roystonea would be going bifid by that stage. It could be Washingtonia. 

looking better it could be Washingtonia

[Slifer00]

On 8/2/2025 at 12:03 PM, Tyrone said:

Looking again at the picture, it doesn’t appear to be going bifid. Roystonea would be going bifid by that stage. It could be Washingtonia. 

Hi again! The mystery palm is pushing out its 6th strap leaf by now. No signs of any splitting. The 5th strap leaf grew out to be 36cm and wavy, so I think we can rule out washingtonia. Base is starting to thicken.