Growth potential and pot size for Archontophoenix alexandrae in Calafell, Spain

[mcfly01]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some expert advice regarding my Archontophoenix alexandrae. I live in Calafell (Tarragona, Spain), which has a Mediterranean climate.

I bought this palm in March 2025. It came in a 35L pot with only 3 leaves. After one year, it has produced 4 new leaves (7 in total now). I have it in a 50x50 cm (approx. 100L) terracotta pot. I know terracotta isn't ideal for moisture retention, but it’s its current home.

My goal and dilemma:

I eventually want to plant it in the ground, but I need it to reach a certain height first. Behind the palm, there is a fence/wall, and I need the trunk (stele) plus the crownshaft to reach at least 1.70 meters (approx. 5.5 feet) so the fronds can clear the fence without hitting it.

My questions for the forum:

Growth projection: Given that it produced 4 leaves in one growing season, how long do you think it will take to develop a 1-meter trunk plus the crownshaft in its current conditions?

Pot limitation: Will this 50x50 cm pot severely limit its vertical growth or trunk thickness (caliper) before it reaches my target height? Can I expect it to develop more rings on the trunk while still in this pot?

Advice: Should I keep it in this pot until it clears the fence height, or is it better to put it in the ground now even if the leaves hit the fence for a couple of years?

I’ve attached three photos: the day I bought it,

the day of the transplant,

and its current state one year later.

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

[RichardHemsley]

I would personally plant it now. This species need a lot of water,  and it will dry out quicker in a pot than it will in the ground. I cant comment on growth rate and how long it will take to the height you want

[mcfly01]

14 minutes ago, RichardHemsley said:

I would personally plant it now. This species need a lot of water,  and it will dry out quicker in a pot than it will in the ground. I cant comment on growth rate and how long it will take to the height you want

Thanks for the advice!

I’m really considering putting it in the ground now that the soil is warming up, but I’m a bit worried about the space. My garden is quite small, only 4x4 meters (13.1 x 13.1 ft), so I’d have to plant it very close to a new 1.7 meter (5.6 ft) fence I’m installing next month.

Since the palm isn't tall enough yet, the leaves will definitely be rubbing against the fence for a while. Do you think the faster growth from being in the ground is worth the risk of some leaf damage? I’m afraid that if I keep it in the pot, it’ll take way too long to finally clear that height.

 

By the way, since my garden is only 4 meters (13.1 ft) wide, I’m worried that if I plant it in the center, the canopy or some fronds might eventually reach the neighbors... or no...

[Harry’s Palms]

It will grow a lot faster in the ground . It will be tough not to have it overhang the fence once it gets big , and at that size will happen fast. To me , the Alexandrea is a much more robust looking palm than the standard King and the fronds are larger . Harry

‘The bamboo fence is 6’ and this was planted as a very small palm in a 10” pot . It clearly overhangs the property line but I have an understanding with neighbors that I will trim what ever gets in their way. It helped to get them interested in palms . If you look closely to the right and behind the Alexandrea is a triple Howea Foresteriana that I gifted the neighbor. Harry

[mcfly01]

4 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

It will grow a lot faster in the ground . It will be tough not to have it overhang the fence once it gets big , and at that size will happen fast. To me , the Alexandrea is a much more robust looking palm than the standard King and the fronds are larger . Harry

‘The bamboo fence is 6’ and this was planted as a very small palm in a 10” pot . It clearly overhangs the property line but I have an understanding with neighbors that I will trim what ever gets in their way. It helped to get them interested in palms . If you look closely to the right and behind the Alexandrea is a triple Howea Foresteriana that I gifted the neighbor. Harry

Hi Harry,

 

Thank you so much for your input. You really do have a lovely spot in that photo you shared.

 

The Alexandra looks great. How long has it been planted in the ground?

 

I see you have it near the bamboo fence, which is exactly what I want to do too. How far is it from the fence? I would plant it about 6 feet away, and I'll talk to the neighbor about pruning the leaves if they grow too long.

Although I think it would be a few years before that problem arises.

A friend of mine is coming over to advise me and help me plant it in the ground. I hope to do it in June, once I have the fence and bamboo up.

[Harry’s Palms]

I planted that over 25 years ago. As I said , it was very small. I bought it as a King palm which it clearly was not . I think I paid $12 for it. It is about 2-3’ from the bamboo fence . Once they get the size of yours , they speed up. Good luck with it , I really think it is ready for the ground. Harry

[mcfly01]

7 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I planted that over 25 years ago. As I said , it was very small. I bought it as a King palm which it clearly was not . I think I paid $12 for it. It is about 2-3’ from the bamboo fence . Once they get the size of yours , they speed up. Good luck with it , I really think it is ready for the ground. Harry

Wow, I didn't realize your palm tree was so old! It really does look great there and seems very healthy.

 

It's a relief to read that you have it at that distance, as it puts my mind at ease with my limited space.

 

I'll definitely plant it in the ground, and perhaps I'll add the Purpurea palm nearby, which is still small, and some Cunningham saplings to give the arrangement different heights. I'll see how the space develops over the years.

 

Thanks again, Harry.

Greetings from Spain.

[happypalms]

I grow a lot of palms, and archontophoenix species I won’t grow for a good reason. They simply grow to fast and need constant attention and water. To look good they need constant repotting. You have choosen your container well! 

[mcfly01]

7 hours ago, happypalms said:

I grow a lot of palms, and archontophoenix species I won’t grow for a good reason. They simply grow to fast and need constant attention and water. To look good they need constant repotting. You have choosen your container well! 

That Alexandra looks great! It's clear it's in its ideal climate. Seeing as you're from Australia, they must grow there year-round.

Here in Spain, I've noticed they grow well from June to September, then they slow down and stop growing altogether. Plus, with the sea breeze at 400 meters, the tips tend to dry out.

I'm not sure if I chose the right pot. It's terracotta, and I understand it's not ideal for retaining the moisture they love... but at least it's breathable and oxygenated well (I hope), and I have to check frequently that it has water and the soil is moist.

I have other smaller Archontrophoenix plants, and I'm going to transplant them into the same terracotta cylinders, but I do want to plant the Alexandra in the ground. I'll send you a picture, and we'll see how it's growing upwards. Roots keep coming out of the drainage holes, searching for more soil.

By the way, happypalms, some people tell me that if Archontophoenix palms are in pots, they should put a saucer of water underneath, but I understand that can rot the roots... what do you think, based on your experience with tropical palms?

[happypalms]

5 hours ago, mcfly01 said:

That Alexandra looks great! It's clear it's in its ideal climate. Seeing as you're from Australia, they must grow there year-round.

Here in Spain, I've noticed they grow well from June to September, then they slow down and stop growing altogether. Plus, with the sea breeze at 400 meters, the tips tend to dry out.

I'm not sure if I chose the right pot. It's terracotta, and I understand it's not ideal for retaining the moisture they love... but at least it's breathable and oxygenated well (I hope), and I have to check frequently that it has water and the soil is moist.

I have other smaller Archontrophoenix plants, and I'm going to transplant them into the same terracotta cylinders, but I do want to plant the Alexandra in the ground. I'll send you a picture, and we'll see how it's growing upwards. Roots keep coming out of the drainage holes, searching for more soil.

By the way, happypalms, some people tell me that if Archontophoenix palms are in pots, they should put a saucer of water underneath, but I understand that can rot the roots... what do you think, based on your experience with tropical palms?

Greetings they are a fantastic palm to grow. I have a native grove of archontophoenix Cunninghamiana growing on my property in the creek line. With terracotta pots you can paint the inside with wood glue or a paving sealant it reduces the water loss. By all means place your palm in a tray you will soon notice roots coming out drinking water. Fear not they love water 

[mcfly01]

22 hours ago, happypalms said:

Greetings they are a fantastic palm to grow. I have a native grove of archontophoenix Cunninghamiana growing on my property in the creek line. With terracotta pots you can paint the inside with wood glue or a paving sealant it reduces the water loss. By all means place your palm in a tray you will soon notice roots coming out drinking water. Fear not they love water 

Great, thanks for your advice! I won't be worried about overwatering them then. I already have a drip irrigation system, and I might put a saucer under the pot.

 

You have a magnificent spot and beautiful palm trees; you can consider yourself lucky! 🤩

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, mcfly01 said:

Great, thanks for your advice! I won't be worried about overwatering them then. I already have a drip irrigation system, and I might put a saucer under the pot.

 

You have a magnificent spot and beautiful palm trees; you can consider yourself lucky! 🤩

A beautiful part of the world! 

[mlovecan]

Archontos are amoung the fastest and easiest palms to grow. I have several 8m ones. To determine how long it will take to 1.7 m, you can measure the distance of each of your recent rings. Since one ring = 1 leaf, that'show many leaves your palm needs to produce. 8 to 10 leaves per growing season is what you can expect if you place it in the ground. 

Enjoy that palm while it's jusy tall enough top look directly at the crown. They become less interesting later.

[mcfly01]

13 minutes ago, mlovecan said:

Archontos are amoung the fastest and easiest palms to grow. I have several 8m ones. To determine how long it will take to 1.7 m, you can measure the distance of each of your recent rings. Since one ring = 1 leaf, that'show many leaves your palm needs to produce. 8 to 10 leaves per growing season is what you can expect if you place it in the ground. 

Enjoy that palm while it's jusy tall enough top look directly at the crown. They become less interesting later.

Of course, what you're explaining makes sense, but I hadn't thought of calculating it that way.

 

It grew in the pot last season, from May to October, and produced four leaves. I don't know the distance between the rings yet until the leaves fall and I can see them, but I understand that if it stays in the same pot, the height will gradually decrease. And if it acclimates well in the ground, it will grow more, as you say. My friend says his Alexandras grow 1.6 feet per season, which is fast, and as you rightly say, we should enjoy it now that its canopy is at a good viewing height.

[mlovecan]

Those 3 green rings will be a pretty good indication of the next ones. They look like about 15cm. 

[mlovecan]

I just took these photos for reference. There are 3 different palms in the photo. 1st and 3rd are Archonto Alexandraes. Second one is a cunninghamiana. The one to the right is Roystonea Princeps. Youj can see by the Alexandraes the spacing is very consistant until you stop watering the things (I took these off irrigation about 6 years ago).   

[mcfly01]

54 minutes ago, mlovecan said:

I just took these photos for reference. There are 3 different palms in the photo. 1st and 3rd are Archonto Alexandraes. Second one is a cunninghamiana. The one to the right is Roystonea Princeps. Youj can see by the Alexandraes the spacing is very consistant until you stop watering the things (I took these off irrigation about 6 years ago).   

Those palm trees look fantastic! I wasn't familiar with Roystonea princeps; I see it's similar but native to Jamaica!

 

I can clearly see what you mean about the growth and the rings. Even though you're not watering them and their growth is slower, they look very slender and have a healthy color. They're very well established in that lovely spot.

 

How long have they been planted there? I see from your profile that you're from Greece. Do you have any advice for our Mediterranean climate? Greetings from Spain!

[mlovecan]

Thanks. 

Roystonea princeps grows in a sinlge location - a swamp that is a a few km inland from the coast. My avatar photo is from there. It's a great palm that is about twice as fast as an Archonto and takes up far less space tha R. Regia. 

The archonto in the middle was planted in 2005 at right about the same size as yours. I planted the two alexandraes next to the base. Those were in their first 2 or 3 leafs from seed. They left one overtook the cunninghamiana after about 5 years. The one on the right was stunted by the roots of the cunninghamiana for about 5 years but then took off. 

They haven't grown so much since I turned off their irrigation (I prefer it that way). So, reaching that height took about 15 years.  When you put them in the ground, they explode after about the second year.   

 

[mlovecan]

As for Mediterranean planting advice. Water the hell out of them in August and feed them regularly. It's quite a difficult plant to screw up.  Just don't cut into the roots by digging next to them. That will set them off into a long decline leading to death.

[mlovecan]

This is the size of the two aleaxdreas when I put them in the ground. That was in 2006.  It's nice to have instant gratification by putting in the large ones. But the small ones will always catch up to larger one pretty quickly. Jusy in case you're planning on growing more than one. Little ones can be purchased on ebay for about a euro each. 

 

[mcfly01]

On 5/2/2026 at 12:18 PM, mlovecan said:

This is the size of the two aleaxdreas when I put them in the ground. That was in 2006.  It's nice to have instant gratification by putting in the large ones. But the small ones will always catch up to larger one pretty quickly. Jusy in case you're planning on growing more than one. Little ones can be purchased on ebay for about a euro each. 

 

Great! It's been 20 years since you planted those Alexandras, they were so small!

 

I was given some Cunninghams that size and I want to plant them around the plant; they'll create a nice visual difference in height for the first few years.

 

Yes, I'll keep the watering in mind, especially for the ones in terracotta pots. I just installed a drip irrigation system this week, with a pressure booster, filter, and a simple timer for when I go on trips, which is usually in August.

 

Thanks again for your input!

[mlovecan]

I dug up some old photos to give you an idea of the growth rate of archotos

Years are 2005, 2008 and 2012. You need to look real close for the seedlings in the first photo, but they're there.

[Than]

Mine produced a new leaf in winter, right after a -2 C episode (with no protection)! Put it in the ground and let the leaves rub against that wall. It won't be long till it has many new leaves anyway. Just water them a lot (morning and evening) on the hot summer days. And make sure they are in shade. Mine only get morning sun for an hour or so and they seem happy.

[mcfly01]

3 hours ago, mlovecan said:

I dug up some old photos to give you an idea of the growth rate of archotos

Years are 2005, 2008 and 2012. You need to look real close for the seedlings in the first photo, but they're there.

Oh, yes, I see the small ones next to the large one in the first photo.

 

In the 2008 photo, it's very, very beautiful, a size to truly appreciate.

 

And how curious how the others grow so quickly in proportion; you can already see it clearly in the 2012 photo.

 

I have a question: is it possible that the trunk rings are closer together when the tree is young and then spread out a bit as it grows taller? Or do they stay at that fixed size?

 

I ask because my Purpurea is young, it still needs to develop its trunk, and the rings it has are very, very close together... will they stay like that? It's just a curiosity to learn more about this wonderful species.

[mcfly01]

2 hours ago, Than said:

Mine produced a new leaf in winter, right after a -2 C episode (with no protection)! Put it in the ground and let the leaves rub against that wall. It won't be long till it has many new leaves anyway. Just water them a lot (morning and evening) on the hot summer days. And make sure they are in shade. Mine only get morning sun for an hour or so and they seem happy.

I'm amazed that it managed to grow a new leaf after those temperatures! You must have a well-acclimated and hardy palm tree in that location, and very healthy, to still have the energy to produce a leaf even in those conditions. How old is it?

 

Yes, I'll plant it soon, and I imagine that even if the leaves touch the fence, it will take off like a rocket in one or two seasons. Last year I kept it in the sun, but I put up the awning during the hottest hours. This year it will have to acclimate to full sun. I understand that the leaves might get burned or dry out, but the new ones that grow will be more resistant... or at least that's what I hope in the Mediterranean sun.

[Than]

7 hours ago, mcfly01 said:

I'm amazed that it managed to grow a new leaf after those temperatures! You must have a well-acclimated and hardy palm tree in that location, and very healthy, to still have the energy to produce a leaf even in those conditions. How old is it?

 

Yes, I'll plant it soon, and I imagine that even if the leaves touch the fence, it will take off like a rocket in one or two seasons. Last year I kept it in the sun, but I put up the awning during the hottest hours. This year it will have to acclimate to full sun. I understand that the leaves might get burned or dry out, but the new ones that grow will be more resistant... or at least that's what I hope in the Mediterranean sun.

Full sun? I'm afraid that's a bad idea. Even if it survives it will look crap in the summer.. 

[mlovecan]

12 hours ago, mcfly01 said:

Oh, yes, I see the small ones next to the large one in the first photo.

 

In the 2008 photo, it's very, very beautiful, a size to truly appreciate.

 

And how curious how the others grow so quickly in proportion; you can already see it clearly in the 2012 photo.

 

I have a question: is it possible that the trunk rings are closer together when the tree is young and then spread out a bit as it grows taller? Or do they stay at that fixed size?

 

The trunk rings at the bottom will get larger when the base widens.  Above the base, no.

One thing you will need to expect (and not be alarmed at all when it happens) is just before the base widens, large cracks will appear in the base.  Don't panic.  When the expansion concludes, the trunk will be smooth again. It happenson a lot of palms but is quite noticeable on Archontos.

I'll see if any mine are doing that right now and get a photo if any of them are.

[Foxpalms]

19 hours ago, Than said:

Full sun? I'm afraid that's a bad idea. Even if it survives it will look crap in the summer.. 

I agree with that I recently dug up some of mine and transplanted them from full to partial sun as they were getting too much sun and that's 51N sun! I also agree with the other comments suggesting to water heavily.

[Than]

On 5/3/2026 at 11:39 PM, mcfly01 said:

You must have a well-acclimated and hardy palm tree in that location, and very healthy, to still have the energy to produce a leaf even in those conditions. How old is it?

Quite the opposite! I bought them a year ago in a terrible state, with only 1 leaf left, chlorotic... name it. I got a good discount and it was May so I thought I'd try. On the day I bought them I accidentally left them in a car under hot Athens sun for several hours; it was like 60 C in the car. I thought they would be goners. Yet they are both fine! One is in the ground and the other one still in a pot; both pushing new leaves. The one in the ground is faster for sure. I am waiting for some trees to make enough shade in order to move the second one in the ground too. Their trunk is about 1m long. 

[mcfly01]

On 5/4/2026 at 10:56 AM, mlovecan said:

The trunk rings at the bottom will get larger when the base widens.  Above the base, no.

One thing you will need to expect (and not be alarmed at all when it happens) is just before the base widens, large cracks will appear in the base.  Don't panic.  When the expansion concludes, the trunk will be smooth again. It happenson a lot of palms but is quite noticeable on Archontos.

I'll see if any mine are doing that right now and get a photo if any of them are.

I'll keep in mind the possibility of cracks at the base of the trunk; I wasn't aware of that process. Although I think it will take a while to see that growth, the Purpurea was recently repotted and I imagine it needs to root well this summer.

 

Of course, if any of yours have cracks, you can show me and I'll get an idea.

[mcfly01]

On 5/4/2026 at 6:36 AM, Than said:

Full sun? I'm afraid that's a bad idea. Even if it survives it will look crap in the summer.. 

 

On 5/5/2026 at 1:59 AM, Foxpalms said:

I agree with that I recently dug up some of mine and transplanted them from full to partial sun as they were getting too much sun and that's 51N sun! I also agree with the other comments suggesting to water heavily.

Oh dear... okay, I'll keep that in mind. Alexandra might get damaged in the full Mediterranean sun, but given the limited space in my garden, it'll have to adapt. The others are smaller and are underneath, in the shade of the larger one.

 

I've already set up a drip irrigation system for them, and I'll make sure they get plenty of water, especially in summer.

 

I'll let you know if it holds up... I hope so!

[mcfly01]

On 5/5/2026 at 6:26 AM, Than said:

Quite the opposite! I bought them a year ago in a terrible state, with only 1 leaf left, chlorotic... name it. I got a good discount and it was May so I thought I'd try. On the day I bought them I accidentally left them in a car under hot Athens sun for several hours; it was like 60 C in the car. I thought they would be goners. Yet they are both fine! One is in the ground and the other one still in a pot; both pushing new leaves. The one in the ground is faster for sure. I am waiting for some trees to make enough shade in order to move the second one in the ground too. Their trunk is about 1m long. 

Wow, those palm trees you have are real survivors! And I'm sure you take very good care of them.

 

I brought some small Cunninghams back by car and I could already see how much they suffered on a short trip.