Palms and cycads are exquisite plants that can transform any landscape into a tropical paradise. In South Carolina, these plants are more resilient to common issues found in tropical regions. Whether you’re looking to create a stunning focal point or a lush tropical oasis, palms and cycads are versatile options that can meet your landscaping needs. In this article, we’ll explore the various uses, care tips, and types of these captivating plants.
Landscape Use: Create a Tropical Paradise
Palms and cycads offer endless possibilities when it comes to landscape design. Some palm varieties have single trunks, making them perfect as solitary specimen plants. Others form clumps, complementing group plantings. Combining palms of the same species or mixing them with other plants can create a visually captivating tropical landscape. Multi-trunk palms, on the other hand, make excellent accent plants, adding a touch of elegance and grandeur.
Cycads, although resembling palms, are unique primitive plants. They can also be used as specimen plants or combined with palms and other foliage to create a stunning tropical landscape. In the eastern part of South Carolina, the sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is a popular choice. These slow-growing beauties require adequate spacing to prevent overcrowding by nearby plants.
Culture: Planting and Care Tips
Planting: Transplanting young palms from containers is recommended, as they are not very tolerant of root disturbance until their trunks develop. Spring and early summer, when soil temperatures increase, are the best times for transplanting, as it aligns with the tree’s active root activity.
Soil conditions: While some parts of South Carolina may not have the ideal soil conditions for palms and cycads, it’s best to strive for uniformly rich, well-drained soil with slightly acidic pH throughout the planting area. Establish a regular fertilization program once new leaves indicate successful establishment.
Watering: Deeply water newly planted palms immediately after planting. Ensure that the root ball and surrounding backfill remain evenly moist but never saturated during the first four to six months. Watering may need supplementation if there is insufficient rainfall. However, it’s crucial to maintain good drainage and avoid overwatering. Established palms and cycads require water during their active growth period in the summer. Applying mulch around the trunk helps conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.
Fertilizing: Regular and balanced fertilization is essential for healthy palm growth. Mature palms benefit from specially formulated granular fertilizers designed for palms. These fertilizers, often referred to as “palm specials,” contain additional magnesium and a complete micronutrient amendment. Nitrogen and potassium rates should be equivalent, and slow-release forms are preferred. Palms in the outer coastal plain areas, where micronutrient deficiencies are common, especially benefit from these specialized fertilizers. Other trees and shrubs sharing soil with palms can also benefit from this fertilizer.
Transplanting: Spring and early summer are the optimal seasons for transplanting palms due to the increasing soil temperatures. Young palms, without visible trunk development, should only be transplanted from containers. For field-grown palms, immediate installation is preferable, but if not possible, partially plant or “heel in” the palms while keeping them well-watered. Avoid adding soil amendments to the backfill during planting.
Support: In hurricane-prone areas, it’s wise to provide proper support for newly planted palms. Larger palms require bracing to ensure stability during the first six to eight months after installation. Three equidistantly-spaced braces, consisting of 12-inch lengths of 2 by 4 inch boards, can support the palm. Securely stake the ends of the support boards to the ground to provide stability.
Pruning Palms: Pruning palms requires careful consideration. Avoid removing leaves at an angle above the horizontal, as this can result in a “lion’s tail” appearance and make the palm more susceptible to cold damage. Only remove completely dead, loose, damaged, or diseased leaves, fruit, and flower stalks. Cutting leaf bases close to the trunk but avoiding damage to the trunk is crucial. Tearing off leaves should be avoided to prevent wounds that can lead to disease or insect infestation.
Types of Palms
The cold hardiness of palms and cycads determines where they can thrive in South Carolina. Most palms listed here can withstand half a zone colder than indicated with proper winter protection, such as wind blocks and ample mulch. Severe winters may cause damage to all but the hardiest palms.
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Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix): Growing naturally in river floodplains, this palm is rare and native to the Southeast. It forms clumps and has palmate, deep-green leaves with silvery undersides. Needle palm is the world’s hardiest palm, surviving short periods of -5 °F and occasional drops to -15 °F. It can be used as both a clump or solitary specimen plant.
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Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor): This palm has short or underground trunks and fan-shaped foliage that ranges from green to bluish-gray. It differs from other native dwarf palms with a split ‘V’ in the middle of its leaves. Dwarf palmettos are more common than needle palms and are hardy throughout South Carolina.
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Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei): With slender trunks and fan-shaped leaves, windmill palms are moderately fast-growing and can reach heights of 20 feet in South Carolina. They are among the most cold-hardy palms, thriving in zones 7b to 8b. Windmill palms do well in light to medium shade and require well-drained soil. Adequate water is necessary, but they cannot tolerate direct salt spray.
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Cabbage Palm or Palmetto (Sabal palmetto): The state tree of South Carolina, cabbage palms are commonly found near coastal areas. They have large, blue-green leaves with threadlike fiber strands and massive trunks. Cabbage palms thrive in full sun to light shade, are adaptable to various soil types, and tolerate salt spray well. They are hardy in zones 7b to 8b.
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Mediterranean or European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis): This small, clumping fan palm has stiff leaves and spiny leaf stems. It grows slowly, reaching heights of around 5 feet. Mediterranean fan palms require full sun to light shade, well-drained soil, and thrive on sites with limestone. Once established, they are extremely drought-tolerant. Hardy in zones 8a to 8b.
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Saw Palmetto, Scrub Palm (Serenoa repens): Native to coastal areas, saw palmettos are low, spreading palms with fan-shaped leaves and saw-tooth-like leaf stems. They require full sun or very light shade and well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 8a to 8b, saw palmettos are tolerant of salt spray and drought once established.
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Jelly Palm, Pindo Palm (Butia capitata): This exotic palm is commonly cultivated in the Southeast. It has feather-type leaves and a massive trunk. Jelly palms grow 10 to 20 feet tall, with a slow to moderate growth rate. They require winter protection below 15 °F and thrive in full sun, well-drained soil. They tolerate salt spray and have reasonable drought tolerance once established.
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California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera): Native to warm climates, this palm can grow up to 100 feet tall but reaches smaller sizes in the Southeast. The tree’s trunk can be 2 feet across. California fan palms are hardy in zone 8b and have moderate salt tolerance. They require special attention due to their size and rapid growth.
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Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta): Resembling the California fan palm, the Mexican fan palm has a slender trunk and is more suitable for South Carolina. However, the hybrid Washingtonia x filibusta may be a better choice for the Southeast.
Cycads: “Living Fossils”
Cycads are primitive plants commonly referred to as “living fossils.” While resembling palms, they are unrelated. The sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is a popular cycad variety.
Sago Palm: These evergreen plants have palm-like fronds radiating from a slow-growing, usually non-branched trunk. Sago palms are slow-growing and long-lived, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet. They are excellent accent plants for both sunny and shaded areas. While the fronds may suffer winter damage, new growth appears in spring. Sago palms are not suitable for western South Carolina.
Problems: Deficiencies, Insects, and Diseases
Nutritional: Palms are prone to nutrient deficiencies, particularly nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Symptoms can include yellowing, streaking, or spotting of the fronds. To address these issues, follow a regular, balanced fertilization program for palms. In sandy regions like the outer Coastal Plain, where micronutrient deficiencies commonly occur, specialized fertilizers are recommended.
Insects and Diseases: Palms and cycads are susceptible to diseases such as fungal leaf spots and root rots. Common insects that affect palms include spider mites, palm leaf skeletonizers, and scale insects. Cycads, especially sago palms, are commonly attacked by scale insects and mealybugs. Controlling diseases and insects on large trees may pose challenges due to proper coverage limitations.
By incorporating palms and cycads into your landscape, you can create a captivating tropical oasis right in your backyard. With proper care and attention, these stunning plants will thrive and provide years of enjoyment.