I live in East Tennessee. I have 2 windmill palms and every year when the weather starts turning colder, I winterize them inside a structure wrapped with plastic sheeting and a couple of heat lamps that kick on when the temperature drops below 35. It's always worked out well, but I just started taking the structure down today and noticed this was growing out of one of the palms. From what I can tell, everything looks ok so far, but I'm not sure what this is?? Forgive my ignorance, please.

Is this bad? Is it due to something I have done wrong? Can I just cut it off and be OK? The tree is probably 8 years old and I've never seen anything like this.

 

Thanks!

I just noticed this on my other palm tree. Same thing?

13 minutes ago, ParrotheadVol said:

I live in East Tennessee. I have 2 windmill palms and every year when the weather starts turning colder, I winterize them inside a structure wrapped with plastic sheeting and a couple of heat lamps that kick on when the temperature drops below 35. It's always worked out well, but I just started taking the structure down today and noticed this was growing out of one of the palms. From what I can tell, everything looks ok so far, but I'm not sure what this is?? Forgive my ignorance, please.

Is this bad? Is it due to something I have done wrong? Can I just cut it off and be OK? The tree is probably 8 years old and I've never seen anything like this.

 

Thanks!

It's a flower stalk called an inflorescence.  I may be wrong but I think your palm is a male.  @Allen has flowering windmills in Middle Tennessee so maybe he can confirm the gender of yours.  Windmills are dioecious so male and female flowers are on different plants.  Congratulations, your palm is happy!

And yes, your other palm is flowering too!  Maybe you'll get seeds if they're male and female.

Wow! Thanks for the response. I was worried it was something bad. Glad I didn’t cut it off! I’ll just let it be. Thanks again!

1 hour ago, ParrotheadVol said:

Wow! Thanks for the response. I was worried it was something bad. Glad I didn’t cut it off! I’ll just let it be. Thanks again!

https://youtu.be/oFZNjwG2hhU?t=63

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ABwdOQaoBg4

 

Try these

 

2 hours ago, ParrotheadVol said:

Wow! Thanks for the response. I was worried it was something bad. Glad I didn’t cut it off! I’ll just let it be. Thanks again!

Here's my two clumps of bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) currently flowering.  Male flowers first:

Female flowers second:

The top pic is showing male flowers. The second, unopened inflorescence can't be identified yet. Typically the females will be more upright in growth and will have a noticeably greener appearance and often emerge later.

1 hour ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

The top pic is showing male flowers.

Good, I guessed right. 👍 

6 hours ago, Fusca said:

Good, I guessed right. 👍 

Apologies. I was actually responding to the OP's post. 🤣 I should have quoted the post with my reply. However, those are some very nice looking Chamaedorea seifrizii. How long have you been growing them.

13 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Apologies. I was actually responding to the OP's post. 🤣 I should have quoted the post with my reply. However, those are some very nice looking Chamaedorea seifrizii. How long have you been growing them.

Thanks!  I've had them about 2 years.  They've been through 2 winters each one bottoming out at 27°F unprotected with no damage.  They started flowering last year but only got two fruits.  Looks like this year will be more productive!

@ParrotheadVol I'd love to see a full picture of your windmill(s) if I may request.