I’ve recently noticed the spear growth rate on my Cuban royal is about 2”-3” per day. It’s a juvenile, standing about 12-14 tall and on the verge of trunking. Is this normal?

You’re in Victorville? With lots of water they will grow extremely fast with high heat. Where you may run into issue is with your winters as the lows may challenge it. If you get below 25 in winter it might get close. But I’m all for zone pushing palms. Best of luck and keep us updated!

1 hour ago, James B said:

You’re in Victorville? With lots of water they will grow extremely fast with high heat. Where you may run into issue is with your winters as the lows may challenge it. If you get below 25 in winter it might get close. But I’m all for zone pushing palms. Best of luck and keep us updated!

Thanks James! Our winters have been pretty mild the 5-8 years but definitely hoping for the best. Definitely will keep updating with photos as well!

Super fast. Mine was planted 3 years ago and already has 5 rings of trunk. It started as a 15 gallon, no trunk. I live in SoCal, though. 

I have a 25 year old Venezuelan Royal that really speeds up in summer . It seems to grow well all year but summers are very good for the palm . I water the heck out of it , they are thirsty . It is way too tall to measure the daily growth of the spear but it is pretty fast . Harry

Y'all are making me want to buy some cheap seeds just to watch the growth. But I remember how much it sucked dragging my 8 foot tall Queen (including a tall 7 gallon pot) inside for the 2021 Texas Palmageddon. These would love the summers here and def have to be dragged inside for the winter. Heyyyyyy we have really tall ceilings in the living room! 

Thanks for the feedback. I’m in SoCal and it seems that my Royal is enjoying the heat dome we’re experiencing. It gets watered liberally everyday. I’m so excited to see how the trunk is going to look!

17 hours ago, James B said:

You’re in Victorville? With lots of water they will grow extremely fast with high heat. Where you may run into issue is with your winters as the lows may challenge it. If you get below 25 in winter it might get close. But I’m all for zone pushing palms. Best of luck and keep us updated!

Hey James, I remember reading a reply or post of yours a while back about king palms. Where do you purchase your palms?

@DesertOasis Please post a pic of your Royal for us to admire! Harry

2 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

@DesertOasis Please post a pic of your Royal for us to admire! Harry

Just shared a few

Very nice palm! It is on the verge of taking off. I bought mine much smaller than yours and it seemed to take a while to get that large . Once the trunk starts to form , they get with it. Just hope the winters are mild . I think the older it gets , the hardier it will be. Harry

Pretty soon you'll be measuring the spear from the 2nd floor window there. 

Mine drops a frond a month in the summer!!

22 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Tengo una palmera venezolana Royal de 25 años que crece mucho en verano. Parece crecer bien todo el año, pero el verano es muy bueno para la palmera. La riego muchísimo, tiene mucha sed. Es demasiado alta para medir el crecimiento diario del tallo, pero es bastante rápida. Harry

Very cool my friend Harry

On 8/24/2025 at 4:00 PM, Harry’s Palms said:

Very nice palm! It is on the verge of taking off. I bought mine much smaller than yours and it seemed to take a while to get that large . Once the trunk starts to form , they get with it. Just hope the winters are mild . I think the older it gets , the hardier it will be. Harry

Thanks Harry! That’s awesome. Would you happen to have any photos of your royal?

Quick update. Yesterday’s measurement was 20 1/2” from new spear to old petiole and today it’s 24”. That’s 3 1/2” in 24 hours! Crazy 

A pic of my Roystonea Olaracae . The palm that was not going to make through a single winter! I was told that this would not pull through my winter temps, but has done ok . These are more sensitive than R. Regia and tend to be not as huge. Harry

The trunk is quite a bit thinner than its cousin. About the size of the Alexandra’s in my courtyard. 
Looking up , hard to get a good pic as it is surrounded by others. I initially thought it could use the group as mutual protection. I don’t think that was necessary. It turned out to be a tougher Palm than I was lead to believe. 

Your palm tree will survive because it is an adult.

4 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

A pic of my Roystonea Olaracae . The palm that was not going to make through a single winter! I was told that this would not pull through my winter temps, but has done ok . These are more sensitive than R. Regia and tend to be not as huge. Harry

The trunk is quite a bit thinner than its cousin. About the size of the Alexandra’s in my courtyard. 
Looking up , hard to get a good pic as it is surrounded by others. I initially thought it could use the group as mutual protection. I don’t think that was necessary. It turned out to be a tougher Palm than I was lead to believe. 

WOW Harry, exceptionally beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

Of course she's a beauty, Harry has very pretty palm trees.

There are certainly variables but here is mine. I’m sure some are faster. Central Florida, mostly full sun with a little winter canopy protection. 
 

March ‘23 install vs today. 11 rings and fat.