Fastest growing drought tolerant palm

[Sandy Loam]

Hello all. What is your fastest growing drought tolerant palm (no irrigation, sandy soil) if you are growing palms in central Florida?  Washingtonia Robusta are fast, but not as fast-growing as in climates which have dry air.  The Washingtonias here in Florida also don't seem to love our summer rainy season.  Some of them also die due to pathogens. 

 

For this reason, I am toying with the idea of Livistona Decora (ribbon palm) instead. It is pretty fast-growing here in Central Florida, but I have no idea how drought tolerant it is.  Is it pretty drought tolerant?  Is there a different Livistona that is equally fast growing AND still is fast growing without irrigation in sandy soil?  My soil holds no moisture and we have months of the year when there is hardly any rain.  The month of May is hot and dry 

Thank you. 

[Fusca]

I'm not in Florida but similar climate here on the Gulf Coast of Texas.  I think L. decora is a pretty good choice for speed but I don't know how drought tolerant they are.  Same thing with L. nitida - grows as fast as Washingtonia with lots of water.  For me Copernicia prunifera is the winner.  I planted this one as a 5-gal in 2021.  It basically sat unchanged it's first year as it worked on roots and not irrigated by my renter but it seems to have hit ground water (?) and exploded the past 2 1/2 years since I moved here and haven't watered it much at all.  Photo is from early spring.  It's holding onto so many fronds I can't count them.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Acrocomia aculeata

[kinzyjr]

Livistona decora is hard to beat for adaptability and disease tolerance.  Other Livistona species like nitida, rigida, australis, mariae, and muellerii provide decent variety if you're interested in the genus.

The other options above are good suggestions, so no repeats. 

A few more by category: 

Florida Native Palms:

• Thrinax radiata
• Leucothrinax morrisii
• Coccothrinax argentata
• Pseudophoenix sargentii
• Serenoa repens

Other Savannah Palms:

• Copernicia alba
• Other Copernicia species.
• Other Coccothrinax species

Desert or Mediterranean Palms:

• Chamaerops humilis
• Medemia argun
• Nannorrhops richiana
• Brahea species: especially aculeata, brandegeei, and edulis for ease of growth, but you could pull off an armata.

Out of the suggestions above, I'd go with Copernicia alba.  Once they get their feet under them, they move fast.  Below, the 2025 photo is mine and the rest are from Street View.

Feb. 2021

June 2022

Jan. 2024

Aug. 2025

[Sandy Loam]

On 10/8/2025 at 1:17 PM, idontknowhatnametuse said:

Acrocomia aculeata

Thanks ! Is Acrocomia aculeata extremely drought tolerant and will grow fast with no irrigation along the i-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando?  If so, I am keenly interested. How many years would I be looking at it before I'm walking underneath that tree, in terms of height? 

 

Also, are those the same Acrocomia that someone planted a century ago in Dade City, Florida?  If so, didn't I read that there something dangerous about those trees? Maybe the trunks were too spiky to be around children or something like that? I can't remember anymore, unfortunately.  

Thanks!! 

[kinzyjr]

@Sandy Loam If you want to see Acrocomia up close and personal, you're a short drive away from them.

https://www.mylakealfred.com/191/Mackay-Gardens-Lakeside-Preserve

[Sandy Loam]

14 minutes ago, kinzyjr said:

@Sandy LoamThanks kinzy

 

[Sandy Loam]

23 minutes ago, Sandy Loam said:

Thanks ! Is Acrocomia aculeata extremely drought tolerant and will grow fast with no irrigation along the i-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando?  If so, I am keenly interested. How many years would I be looking at it before I'm walking underneath that tree, in terms of height? 

 

Also, are those the same Acrocomia that someone planted a century ago in Dade City, Florida?  If so, didn't I read that there something dangerous about those trees? Maybe the trunks were too spiky to be around children or something like that? I can't remember anymore, unfortunately.  

Thanks!! 

One more question: where can I get fresh seed for Acrocomia aculeata and are they hard to germinate ? 

Does anyone sell those palms that you know of in Central Florida or north central Florida? 

 

Thanks! They (Acrocomia aculeata) look great on Palmpedia, I have to admit. 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

1 hour ago, Sandy Loam said:

Thanks ! Is Acrocomia aculeata extremely drought tolerant and will grow fast with no irrigation along the i-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando?  If so, I am keenly interested. How many years would I be looking at it before I'm walking underneath that tree, in terms of height? 

 

Also, are those the same Acrocomia that someone planted a century ago in Dade City, Florida?  If so, didn't I read that there something dangerous about those trees? Maybe the trunks were too spiky to be around children or something like that? I can't remember anymore, unfortunately.  

Thanks!! 

It is very drought tolerant. It will take 3-4 years for the palm to reach a considerable height and start flowering/fruiting. I left my Acrocomias alone two years ago with days of over 40⁰C and they grew faster than when I was taking care of them.

[Sandy Loam]

1 hour ago, Sandy Loam said:

 

Thanks for the info on the acrocomia. I just Googled the trunk and it has huge dangerous spines. Unfortunately, that might be a deal breaker for me. I don't want to put any children at risk. 

.. But thanks! 

[happypalms]

Livistona rotundifolia, I have sandy soil my one has no irrigation and is growing very fast. If you could give them a bucket full every now and then they would appreciate it. My one is basically growing in the bush dry sclelorphly forest.

[kinzyjr]

50 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Livistona rotundifolia, I have sandy soil my one has no irrigation and is growing very fast. If you could give them a bucket full every now and then they would appreciate it. My one is basically growing in the bush dry sclelorphly forest.

They're neat with the fruit that turns bright red before it ripens black and falls down to the ground.  Very attractive fan palm.  We sold 30 seeds to a lucky buyer at the CFPACS Fall Meeting.

[happypalms]

1 minute ago, kinzyjr said:

They're neat with the fruit that turns bright red before it ripens black and falls down to the ground.  Very attractive fan palm.  We sold 30 seeds to a lucky buyer at the CFPACS Fall Meeting.

You should have germinated them 🤣

[Jdash]

Are sabal hybrids, butia x J hybrids, or borassus aethiopium drought tolerant enough? 

usually drought tolerant and fast is not really seen during the years of establishment as they are throwing down deep tap roots and root infrastructure needed to thrive.  i would suggest whatever you decide to plant, to go out there during extreme dry periods and at least hand water them a little if they're not established. This year has gotten pretty dry where i'm at on my sandy ridge and a sabal palmetto with 6 ft of trunk on an empty lot almost croaked ... quite something. mulch would help as well, keep in moisture. mixing in some organic matter or other amendments will also help the soil around the tree retain moisture for longer periods of time. 

Set your tree up for success as much as you can