Palms that appear to be frozen in time

[FlaPalmLover]

What is the deal with palms that seem to look good enough consistently but also no different than they did a year or more ago? I have noticed that several large, mature bismarcks that were planted by the interstate in my area, and most likely transplanted, look good but don't seem to really grow much at all. Many have 3-4 spears that just seem to look about the same for months and take forever to start to open up. I would assume that the people who transplant these for DOT or whatever know how to transplant them properly, but perhaps they are so bad at transplanting that even when they are properly transplanted, they take a while to root out and grow again? I also have a bismarck that I planted in my back yard last spring, and just now, finally, the newest spear it had when I got it a year and a half ago is starting to fully open up. I don't know if I should give up on it since it is now starting to show signs of growth, but it is frustrating as it seems that one of my neighbors who got a smaller Bismarck last spring has been able to enjoy a ton of growth and theirs looks notably larger than it did when they got it. They're also retired so they have time to go out and hand water it and baby it.

On the other hand, the foxtail I got a little over two years ago has pushed out more fronds this year than it did last year and seems to perhaps be finally starting to prosper and really take off.

[tim_brissy_13]

There’s a few reason why palms might look healthy but not put out much visible growth. Even for fast growing species, after transplant often the first year or so will be spent mainly putting down roots so above ground growth is slow. 

[SeanK]

44 minutes ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

There’s a few reason why palms might look healthy but not put out much visible growth. Even for fast growing species, after transplant often the first year or so will be spent mainly putting down roots so above ground growth is slow. 

Agreed. Probably most energy goes to root development prior to expanding the canopy.

[David B]

I was told with transplanted palms - first year sleep, second year creep and third year leap. 

[sonoranfans]

Bismarckia is a palm that grows deep, expansive roots.  We have these planted all along the I75 where it meets the I275 near my place.  They seem to sit for a couple years before kicking in.  Some are in poor drainage soil and they take longer.  Our rains this year appeared to kick in the growth in some of those that have been in 3 years or so.  Transplanting a large palm with plenty of trunk seems to always take extra time as they cut back the leaves and roots.   Sabal palmettos with 8- 12' of trunk were put in the landscape plans in quite a few of houses near me.  They sat for a few years before filling out to a full crown.  The expectation that you can buy a large palm and have it look like an established large palm in 2 years is unrealistic for bismarckia, sabals, even royals dont replace a crown so fast without a reestablished root system.  A palms ability to feed is largely determined by the size of the root system and the fertilized area.  With a transplant you have a small root system that will take years to grow to size.

[dalmatiansoap]

Serenoa repens in my yard😂 Seem like plastics 

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 10/11/2025 at 6:03 PM, David B said:

I was told with transplanted palms - first year sleep, second year creep and third year leap. 

Unless it's Washingtonia.🤣

[TropicsEnjoyer]

13 hours ago, dalmatiansoap said:

Serenoa repens in my yard😂 Seem like plastics 

That’s how I feel about my sago palms. They feel like plastic too.