Everything about the palm tree: what is this plant, where and how long does it grow, and what does it look like in the photo? Areca palm Fruits of palm trees

Oddly enough, not all people can answer the question correctly about what grows on a palm tree. Some believe that not only dates and coconuts can grow on them, but also bananas and pineapples, which is absolutely incredible.

Types of Palm Plants

Palm is a southern woody plant that grows exclusively in tropical and subtropical climates. The Palm family belongs to flowering plants and has about 185 genera and 3,400 species. There are especially many of these plants in the areas of Southeast Asia and the tropical countries of South America.

In colder regions, palm representatives can be seen in the Mediterranean and North Africa, Crete, Japan and China, northern Australia, etc.

Palm trees can be found in completely different places, from the sea coast to the slopes of the highlands, near swamps and forests, as well as in hot oases in the desert. However, most of all they prefer humid and shady areas with a tropical climate, forming continuous thickets. Palm trees are also widespread in African savannas, where they easily tolerate drought and hot winds.

Shapes and structural features of palm trees

Palm trees have a wide variety of growth forms:

• tree-like: Cuban, royal, corypha umbelliferous; Washingtonia filamentosa; barrigona, hyphene thebes (dum palm);
• shrub-like: lanceolate chamedorea, acelorapha;
• stemless: palmetto shrub, Wallich herring, saw palmetto;
• climbing vines: calamus.

The original structural features of palm trees are that the plant does not have the usual botanical elements, such as a trunk and branches:

• its “trunk” is formed from the remains of obsolete leaves, which harden and form a column; it can only grow upward, but not in width, and this process is quite long (1 m grows in 10 years);
• the roots at the base form a bulb, from which small roots extend;
• nutritious juices circulate only in the center of the “trunk”, due to which palm trees are considered fire-resistant;
• Thanks to its ability to re-sprout leaves from its own trunk, this plant is called a “phoenix tree.”

Among palm trees there are monoecious and dioecious plants; in the second option, there are male plants that pollinate the female ones, and accordingly, only the latter bear fruit. In nature, pollination occurs with the help of the wind, but in cultivated plantings people do it manually. Fruit ripening lasts about 200 days.

Fruits of palm trees

The palm tree is one of the most useful plants for humans, because many of its varieties produce very tasty and even medicinal fruits: dates, coconuts, etc. Flour, oil, alcoholic drinks are made from them, fibers are also produced on an industrial scale, from which bags and other fabric products.

The most beneficial fruits for humans that grow on palm trees are dates and coconuts.

The date is a cylindrical berry with a thin peel; its average weight is 7 g, of which 2 g is per seed. The sugar content in it reaches 70%, calorie content - 30 kcal/piece. 10 dates a day provide the daily need of the human body for magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron and a quarter of calcium.

Many tasty and healthy ingredients are extracted from coconut:

• juice or water - a clear liquid, the endosperm of a coconut, contained inside the fruit; as it ripens, it mixes with oil and hardens;
• coconut milk - obtained after squeezing grated copra, it is white and quite fatty, after adding sugar it is very tasty;
• oil - extracted from coconut copra, is a valuable product due to its high content of fatty acids, used in cosmetics and treatment.

Coconut palm

It is not for nothing that this plant is called the “tree of life” in the tropics, because local residents use almost all of its parts for food and making various products; the leaves and wood are used in construction.

However, for unlucky people, this palm tree can become a “tree of death”, because according to statistics, 150 people die every year from blows to the head from such nuts. The weight of an average coconut is about 1-3 kg, so dropping it even on the roof of a car leaves a dent, and it is deadly for the head.

Coconut palm fruits grow in groups of 15-20 pieces. and ripen in 8-10 months. Fruiting in trees lasts up to 50 years, during this period each palm tree produces 60-120 nuts annually.

The outside of the coconut is covered with a hard shell, inside there is pulp and liquid, which becomes sweet as the fruit ripens. You can clean it with a knife or machete.

Date palm

Date palms were grown in Mesopotamia (in modern-day Iraq) starting in the 4th century BC. e. The tree bears fruit for 60-80 years, and can live up to 150.

There are legends about the benefits and calorie content of date palm fruits. Thus, the Arabs believe that every warrior can live in the desert for 3 days, eating 1 date, first eating the pulp, then the skin, and on the 3rd day, the ground pit. Regular consumption of these fruits reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and slows down the aging process.

One of the resorts of Elche in Spain is famous for its park of date palms (since 2000 the park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), about 300 thousand of which are planted here; dates are harvested here regularly.

Roystonea Palm

Royal Palm ( Roystonea) - has a chic appearance corresponding to its name, standing out from its surroundings and landscape. The height of the tree can reach 40 m, the trunk is smooth gray, at its top there is a crown of huge feathery leaves up to 8 m long and 2 m wide. The plant is monoecious: male and female flowers are located on the same tree below the crown.

Roystoneea has 17 species, distributed in the southern states of the United States, Central and South America, and the West Indies. The most popular species are the Cuban palm ( Roystonea regia) and the royal vegetable palm, from which the edible succulent apical buds, called "palm cabbage", are collected.

Roystones are planted as a decorative ornament along boulevards and avenues in cities of the tropical region, along the edges of beaches, and are often used in landscape design.

Everything that grows on the Roystone palm tree is successfully used by humans: the trunks are used in construction, the leaves and fibers are used to make roofing and wickerwork, the fruits are happily eaten by livestock, and palm oil is produced from the seeds.

Bismarckia noble

Family of Bismarck ( Bismarckia Nobilis) includes the only species that is also called the Bismarck palm, named after the 1st Chancellor of Germany. This drought-resistant tree has an original appearance and color and is widely distributed on the island of Madagascar.

The petioles grow from a single grey-yellow-brown trunk with ring-shaped depressions (45 to 80 cm in diameter at the base). In nature, palm trees grow up to 12-25 m tall. Beautiful silver-blue round leaves reach 3 m, dividing into segments at the ends. The petioles are 2-3 m long, protected by spines and covered with white wax.

The plant is dioecious, the flowers grow on dark purple stems, the fruits are brown, ovoid, up to 48 cm long, and there is a drupe inside with one seed. Bismarckia leaves are used to make roofing and wickerwork, and the bitter-tasting sago is prepared from the core.

This palm tree can be successfully grown at home; it looks impressive in the interior and is easy to care for.

Decorative and indoor palm trees

Palm trees are perfect for lovers of exotic plants, since growing them at home does not present any difficulties in caring for them. In the countries of the European region and Russia, ornamental palm trees take root best in winter gardens and greenhouses, where a suitable microclimate can be created for them, because the plant is, after all, southern and heat-loving.

The plant propagates by seeds, which can be found in specialized flower shops. The most common types that can be grown in apartments and houses:

• Date palm, often grown from seed, can grow up to 2 m at home, forming a lush crown over a shaggy trunk.
• Dracaena has been used for landscaping houses and apartments for several 10 years, it is propagated by seeds and cuttings, the leaves are light or dark green in color, less often striped, and can form several trunks.
• Areca - has a flexible trunk, decorated with feathery leaves a meter long.
• Trachycarpus is a decorative type of palm tree with an original bottle-shaped trunk and fan-shaped leaves, blooms with white and yellow flowers with a pleasant smell, the fruits are blue-black.
• Howea Fostera is a popular species, easy to care for, little susceptible to attack by pests and diseases, dark green leaves, etc.

Caring for a palm tree in an apartment

The most important rule when growing ornamental palm trees at home is to create high humidity and proper lighting. If the air in the apartment is dry due to winter heating, the plants must be frequently sprayed and watered with distilled or filtered water: in the summer months - 2-3 times a week, in the winter - daily.

Every year, a young palm tree needs to be replanted, choosing a more spacious pot; older trees - less often. Plants and their roots are afraid of drafts, so it is not recommended to place the tubs on the windowsill or floor. Many types of palm trees do not tolerate direct sunlight, preferring bright and diffused lighting.

However, at home, all plants only bloom, and the rare fruits that set never ripen. This way you won’t be able to find out what’s growing on the palm tree, but an exotic green beauty in a tub in the middle of the house will create a cozy tropical corner and a positive emotional atmosphere.

Coconut is an exotic, amazing fruit that many people like for its unusual taste and amazing delicate aroma. For those who are fans of this product, in our article we want to talk about how and where coconuts grow.

The history of coconut

Before we talk about where coconuts grow, it is worth mentioning the history of this amazing plant. Oddly enough, it is still unknown exactly how such interesting palm trees appeared on the planet. But there are a number of legends and assumptions regarding this issue. It is difficult to judge how true they are. However, all botanists are still inclined to believe that the plant has a very ancient origin, its history goes back to those distant times when dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

Coconut fruits have an interesting property - they are incredibly light and waterproof. Since trees grow on the coasts of the oceans, ripe nuts fall into the water and are carried by currents to all corners of the planet. Almost all versions say that the birthplace of coconut palms can be considered Southeast Asia, India, California, and the islands in the Pacific Ocean. An interesting fact is that fossilized coconuts were discovered in New Zealand, and it is also known that palm trees have been growing in India for 4,000 years. Therefore, some scientists are inclined to believe that the shores of the Indian Ocean can be considered the plant’s homeland. In general, there are many opinions, and they are all quite different. However, it is reliably known that the plant grows in the equatorial belt.

And coconuts? It would seem easy to answer this question: “Where it’s warm...” This judgment is partly true. But not all readers know that coconuts grow in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Central and South America. In total, the plant is widespread and safely produces crops in 89 countries of the world.

Ocean coasts are the places where coconuts grow in natural conditions. As we already mentioned, this is due to their way of moving through water. But nowadays coconut palms grow in many countries far from the coast, which is already the result of human activity.

Coconut palm

The uniqueness of the coconut palm lies in the fact that it is the one and only representative of the Coconut genus, belonging to the Palm family. There are only intraspecific varieties. The basis of classification is the size of the plant.

There are tall coconut trees that are widely used for commercial and home cultivation. The height of such plants is 25-30 meters. Such palm trees grow slowly in adulthood, and begin to bear fruit 6-10 years after planting. An interesting fact is that the coconut tree bears fruit for sixty years, and sometimes even longer. Every year, each plant produces dozens of nuts. Such palms cross-pollinate and are therefore planted in groups.

Dwarf plants

Dwarf palms (coconut) grow only up to ten meters in height; they begin to bear fruit three years later, as soon as they reach one meter. Plants live much shorter than their larger counterparts - only 30-40 years. Such palm trees are self-pollinating, and therefore they do not need relatives in the neighborhood.

Palm root system

Sometimes people wonder where coconuts grow: on a tree or on the ground? Do not confuse pineapples, which actually grow on the ground, with coconuts, which grow on palm trees.

It should be understood that where coconuts grow, any other plant would quickly die. And palm trees have been thriving for decades thanks to their root system. The peculiarity of the plants is that they do not have tap roots, but they are armed with many fibrous roots, which together look like a broom. And they grow from a thickening at the bottom of the trunk. External roots spread along a horizontal surface, and internal roots go down, penetrating to a depth of ten meters.

It is this unusual root structure that allows palm trees to grow well on a sandy coast, which is subject to winds, tides. But even such a system is sometimes not enough. You can often see bizarre plants with curved trunks and washed roots from the soil.

Plant structure

The trunk of the plant has no branches; it grows from one apical bud. It is called the heart of the coconut. It is a collection of folded leaf primordia. The trunk at the base in adulthood reaches eighty centimeters in diameter. The rest of the trunk has the same diameter - forty centimeters. It must be said that in the first years the plant develops very quickly and can produce a growth of 1.5 meters in a year. But over time, the palm tree matures and begins to slow down in growth and gains only 10-15 centimeters. The plant trunk does not have a cambium, and therefore cannot repair damaged tissue. If a plant loses its only bud, this leads to its death.

But adult palm trees grow 18,000 vascular bundles on their trunk, which help them withstand significant damage. We have already mentioned that in those regions where coconuts grow, there are frequent storms, winds, tides, and sometimes the plants are injured.

The first leaves of the future palm tree, sprouting from the nut, look like feathers. Only after the first 8-10 leaves do real leaves begin to grow. An adult plant produces 12-16 new leaves per year.

At the same time, up to 30-40 of them grow on a palm tree. A mature coconut leaf is 3-4 meters long and divided into 200-250 stripes. It remains on the trunk for three years, after which it falls off. And a scar remains on the tree. From these scars you can determine the approximate age of the plant. To do this, you need to divide the number of scars by thirteen. This will be the approximate age of the coconut tree.

Flowering plant

Where do coconuts grow? Inflorescences in the form of a cob are formed on the tree, each of which is located in the axil and has male and female flowers. There are always more men than women. Four months after the leaf is separated, the rudiment of the inflorescence appears, and the flowers themselves grow after another 22 months. And in another year the shell of the inflorescence itself will open. The male flowers bloom first, and then the female ones. About 50-70 percent of flowers are not pollinated, especially in dry weather. And from pollinated fruits develop, which ripen within a year.

What is the fruit?

The coconut fruit itself is a fibrous drupe. The outside of a young nut has a smooth green or red-brown surface. Ripe fruits are covered with fibers, which are successfully used in various sectors of the national economy, and then inside there is a waterproof shell. It protects the core. It is thanks to this shell that coconuts travel around the world. Inside the nut is covered with pulp (12 millimeters), and in the very center there is liquid.

Where do coconuts grow?

We mentioned that the typical habitat of plants is the equatorial belt. Where bananas and coconuts grow, they have long been industrial crops that are grown for further sale and processing. Plants not only decorate the coasts, but are also planted in huge plantations.

For example, India is known as the birthplace of spices. However, the country is engaged in more than just their cultivation. At first glance, it is difficult to tell where coconuts grow in India. Yes, in principle, everywhere, including the famous Goa - this is an island that has a suitable climate and geographical location for growing coconut palms and fruits. There are a huge number of plantations where coconuts grow.

For example, the Pascoal plantation, located near the village of Khandepar, borders a tributary of the Mandovi River. The owners of the land not only grow coconuts, spices, nuts and mangoes, but also receive tourists. There are cottages built here where guests can stay. There are excursions around the plantation, during which you can learn about how crops grow, what they do with them and what they are needed for.

In addition, there are a number of similar farms on the island that grow coconuts. These are the Savoy, Sakahari, etc. plantations.

On the mainland, coconut palms also grow everywhere. However, there are some peculiarities. For example, in the central part of India, plants grow to the height of a five-story building, and the fruits themselves reach the size of a human head. This coconut weighs up to two kilograms.

But to the south, palm trees grow much shorter, but at the same time their fruits are smaller. In general, it is worth noting that coconuts grow almost everywhere in India. They are very popular here and products made from them are widely used in life.

Where do coconuts grow? In New Zealand, China, Cambodia, Mozambique, Guinea, Cameroon... The list of countries is incredibly long. In general, we can say that the plant grows in areas with a tropical climate, which is a real paradise for coconut palms.

Coconuts in Russia

In Russia? This plant can be found here exclusively in botanical gardens or miniature versions - in home greenhouses. Of course, it is unlikely that you will be able to wait for fruiting at home, but there may be a small exotic plant in the house. If you really want to plant a coconut, then the best place for it would be a greenhouse. The care process itself is quite troublesome, but if you really want to, it’s still worth a try. The most suitable are two types: nut-bearing and Wedel. A high-quality ripe fruit should be half-immersed in the ground and wait for sprouts to appear. After some time, sprouts will appear from the coconut, which will turn into leaves. And later a wide trunk will begin to form from them.

Plant care

The plant loves warmth, but not extreme heat. The optimal temperature is 20 degrees. The coconut tree will need additional lighting. It is also worth remembering that the plant loves moisture, and therefore needs daily spraying and abundant watering during the warm period. The palm tree should not be disturbed again, much less replanted, since the root system can be disturbed.

It is worth noting that coconuts are very common throughout the world. They are not found only on the European continent. Among European countries, the plant is found only in Spain, and even then not on the mainland, but on the Canary Islands, located near Morocco in Africa.

Instead of an afterword

Concluding the conversation about where coconuts grow (we provided photographs in the article), I would like to say that the plant is associated in our imagination with white sandy beaches and the ocean, and therefore attracts with its exoticism. But don’t forget that the fruit itself is incredibly healthy. No wonder it is so popular in the places where it grows. Its pulp and oil are actively used in cooking. And nut milk is tasty and healthy. Of course, in our latitudes it is difficult to buy a really tasty and good fruit, since coconuts are often harvested while still green for transportation. Coconuts also deteriorate during transportation. But if you happen to visit tropical countries, be sure to try a real ripe fruit; you will certainly appreciate its taste and aroma.

Many people want to create a tropical garden or have a palm tree in their home. To grow palm tree at home, you need to create native tropical conditions and be patient. The majestic tree grows for several decades.

The variety of species, sizes and varieties makes it difficult to choose what kind of home palm we want to get. Many grow quite quickly, grow to gigantic sizes and do not feel comfortable in a small apartment. Our article will help you understand the variety and choose the right plant for home use.

Home palm: description

The palm tree is so named because of the bizarre shape of its leaves, which resemble a human palm. Not all species have this leaf shape, but we learned about this a little later.

Main characteristics of palm trees:

• Today, several thousand species of palm trees are known. There are far fewer domestic representatives.
• Home palm is an unpretentious plant, which grows slowly in indoor conditions. The homeland of the palm tree is the tropics and subtropics.
• The palm tree creates its beauty and spectacular appearance with the help of its leaves. They form a ball or circle of thin long leaves, some species have wide leaves. The plant does not tolerate the removal of green foliage. You shouldn't do this for no apparent reason.
• Home palm growing in large pots. As they grow, they increase the earthen spaces for development and growth. In a few years or even decades, a real tree will appear in the house. Under the foliage you can create a tropical clearing for relaxation.
• The palm tree has a thick trunk and large spreading leaves at the top. The trunk is formed as the plant grows and the stems die. At home, palm trees do not bear fruit. Due to aridity and cool temperatures, fruits do not form on the domestic palm tree.

Many people confuse domestic palms with false representatives. False palms grow from woody leaves.

False palms include:

• dracaena;
• yucca;
• pandanus;
• Cordilina.

Dracaena

Pandanus

Cordilina

They resemble dwarf palms, which rarely grow more than 1 m.

Another plant looks like a home palm - white-veined spurge. Outwardly, it resembles a bizarre small palm tree: wide green leaves with a red border grow on the upper part of the stem. In fact, it is a succulent and has nothing to do with the palm tree.

Real palm trees form home flower beds. Some species have many leaf stems with a large fan. Such home flowers in the form of palm trees are popular among lovers of tropical plants. To prevent the branches from falling apart, they are tied, forming a “bouquet”.

Varieties of domestic palm

All palms are divided into 2 large groups: fan and pinnate. They are distinguished by leaf shape.

Fan palms:

• coconut:
• banana:
• date

Typical representatives of the cirrus palm are Chamerops or Trachycaprus. Some palms are short in stature, like the pineapple palm, and with fancy flowers, like the caryota palm. What domestic palms have in common is their unpretentiousness to growing conditions and soil composition.

Below is a catalog of decorative indoor palm trees with photographs and descriptions.

Date

This is one of the most common types of domestic palms:

• Belongs to the pinnate species: a thick trunk and a fan of leaves at the top.
• As the leaves grow, they die and the plant grows in height.
• The family includes more than 20 species.
• The homeland of the date is Africa, known since the times of Mesopotamia.

More often, lovers of exotic plants grow from seeds. But unfortunately, after a few years they regret their action: it grows very quickly and rests on the ceiling of the apartment. It is impossible to force a palm tree to bear fruit from a seed. It bears fruit after many years in nature and maintaining the required temperature. They do not require special care: moderate watering and constant temperature, they are afraid of drafts and cold windows in winter.

Date palm

Hovea

The origin of the species is the Pacific Islands. Grows up to 2 meters at home. Belongs to the feathery species. The trunk is formed at a fairly “mature” age. The leaves grow straight from the roots, forming a giant cap. It is unpretentious and undemanding in care, tolerates lack of light and aridity. Prefers window sills, balconies and other bright and warm places.

Hovea

Liviston

Refers to the fan form. On the stem, thin leaves form a circle with a cut to the middle. Domestic species grow up to 1.5 m. Their homeland is southern Asia, Australia and the islands. She loves a lot of light and constant temperatures. Reducing the temperature to +10℃ can kill the plant. Propagated by seeds that form on the lower part of the leaf. Likes constant watering: every day or every other day.

Liviston

Umbrella palm

Or Likuala. It also appeared in home greenhouses from the tropics. Spectacular leaves of huge sizes look like a corrugated fan, the trunk is thin and low. Grows no more than 2 m. Demanding on moisture. Due to excessive watering, the roots may rot, which does not bother the houseplant at all. You can get rid of this by pouring alcohol.

Umbrella palm

Hamedorea (Neanta)

It is called the bamboo palm from the tropical forests of Yucatan and Mexico. The feathery leaves are elongated. The trunk is low, formed from dead stems. At home, it grows up to 1.2 m in a few years. It requires light, but does not like direct sunlight. The optimal temperature is more than +18℃. It also requires a lot of watering without stagnation of water and drying out of the soil.

Hamedorea

cat palm

Or cyperus grows only in Egypt. It was from this that the legendary papyrus was made. It produces thin, dark green stems straight from the ground. The leaves form umbrellas in several layers. Domestic cats love the palm, which is probably why it was given such a name. Like many members of the palm family, it requires light and humidity. It is important to maintain tropical temperatures.

cat palm

Dracaena

Refers to false palms that appeared at home from the tropics. There are several hundred species. There are thin leaves on the upper part of the trunk. Some species have a red border on the foliage. It grows unpretentiously. Tolerates drought, does not like direct sunlight and drafts.

"Palm" Dracaena

Rapis

The tropical plant is classified as a fan species. Wide, fan-shaped leaves with many slits grow from a low trunk. At home, low rapis is common, which grows up to 1.5 m.

Much attention must be paid to watering: it does not tolerate waterlogging or drying out of the soil. Prefers high temperatures from +20℃. In summer, during dry times, take a shower with cool water.

Rapis

Cycas or sago palm

India and the islands of Polynesia are considered to be the birthplace of the plant. The short plant has a “pot-bellied” trunk, from which stems grow in several groups. It grows very slowly. Under ideal conditions, it adds only 3 cm per year. The foliage remains practically unchanged and has a dark green color.

Belongs to the feathery varieties. Care requires direct sunlight for several hours, moderate watering and average temperatures. If the conditions are not met, it falls into stagnation and does not grow.

Tsikas

Areca

The palm tree is native to China and India. Of the few species, only a few are grown at home. There is no trunk. The stems are semicircular in shape, collected in bunches with wide leaves. Areca is difficult to grow.

A young plant up to 6 years of age does not survive sunburn or low temperature and eventually dies. Requires light from all sides and moderate watering. Optimum temperature +35℃. Can grow up to 12 m in an apartment.

Areca

Yucca

It belongs to the false palms, native to the arid regions of Central America. A low shrub with a thick trunk and stiff foliage at the top. The foliage is pointed in shape with stiff hairs along the edges, the leaf length reaches half a meter.

Under good conditions, it will bloom: on a high stick, a stem with many white flowers in shape grows from the center. When caring, it requires moderate watering: it dies in waterlogged soil and cold air. Tolerates aridity. Requires sunny color and air temperature from +20℃.

"Palm" Yucca

Kariota

The variety is better known as fishtail. It got its name due to its unusual foliage, reminiscent of a fish tail. Indoor species grow small in size. Homeland - tropical forests of Asia, the Pacific Islands and Australia.

Karyote has no trunk; stems with fancy leaves grow from the ground. Requires air humidity as in the tropics. Resistant to moderate watering and average air temperatures.

Kariota

Livistona Chinese

The species grows naturally on the Pacific Islands and eastern Australia. The indoor plant does not have a trunk. It grows quickly due to fan leaves with many cuts. Grows in the shade, at low temperatures of +16-18℃. But it does not tolerate dryness and prefers frequent spraying.

Livistona Chinese

Chrysalidocarpus

Homeland: Madagascar and the islands of Oceania. At home it grows several meters. Tall, feathery leaves grow on thin trunks; it is impossible to force a palm tree to bloom in an apartment. Tolerates low temperatures in apartments, moderate watering. Does not like drafts and sudden drops in temperature.

Chrysalidocarpus

Pandanus

Or the screw palm appeared in apartments from East Asia and Madagascar. Thick feathery leaves form a trunk. As they die, the plant trunk becomes woody. The leaves of an adult plant have prickly thorns at the ends, which can be dangerous for children and animals.

In an adult plant, roots appear throughout the trunk, forming bizarre shapes. It grows quickly and reaches several meters. Requires a lot of space and height. Undemanding in care.

"Palm" Pandanus

Nolina

Or Bokarneya grows in the southern latitudes of North America. It is popularly called the bottle palm for its bizarre trunk shape: at the base it has the shape of a ball, and the trunk resembles a bottle. At the top of the trunk there are narrow feathery leaves. Sometimes confused with dracaena.

Requires full watering and no drafts. Undemanding to lighting, but the foliage will be thicker and brighter in a sunny place.

Nolina

Brighamy

Or the Hawaiian palm tree came to our apartments from the Hawaiian Islands. At home it grows up to 1 m. The amazing shape of the plant attracts attention: on the top of the thick fleshy trunk grow wide leaves with a waxy coating, reminiscent of cabbage.

It blooms with amazing flowers of a simple shape of light yellow color. They grow in the same way as leaves - from the top of the trunk, producing an exotic bouquet. The trunk stores a large amount of moisture, so it tolerates drought. Prefers high temperatures and absence of drafts.

Brighamy

Washingtonia

It grows naturally in the subtropical deserts of the southern North American continent. The variety prefers cool temperatures and bright light. Grows up to 20 m even at home. Fan-like hard leaves grow on a thick trunk.

The lower leaves die off, forming a scaly trunk. On an adult plant, flower stalks with 3 m stems appear. After flowering, small black berries are formed.

Washingtonia

Madagascar palm

Or Pachypodium lamera. This amazing plant resembles both a palm tree and a cactus up to 1.5 m high at home. The trunk is covered with needles and resembles a cactus. Long narrow leaves are located at the top of the trunk. In winter it sheds its leaves.

It grows in Madagascar and is poisonous. Requires a lot of light and heat: in summer up to +30℃, in winter at least +15℃. Does not tolerate changing places or even turning the pot. May shed leaves.

Madagascar palm

Trachycarpus

The variety was found in the Himalayas, China and Japan. It grows slowly and tolerates freezing temperatures. Refers to fan types. It grows as the lower leaves die. At the top there are large fan-shaped leaves with many cuts, the leaves are hard.

You cannot cut off the bottom leaves - this is how the palm tree takes all the useful substances, and when the leaf is completely dry, it can be removed. Undemanding in care: tolerates shade, frost, drought.

Trachycarpus

Karlyudovika palmata

False palm. Thick palm-like leaves grow on a fleshy stem. Requires diffused light, moderate watering and no drafts. The homeland of the bush is Panama. It is also called the Panama palm.

Karlyudovka

Cryosophila spanisha

Not the most common type of palm tree at home. The birthplace of the plant is the tropics of Central America. A graceful, single-trunked plant with curved, feathery, fan-shaped leaves. Undemanding to light and watering. Does not tolerate excess salt in soil and water. Resistant to pests.

Necessary conditions for home palm trees

Each type of palm tree requires certain conditions: some need a lot of light, others cannot live without daily watering. However, there are general rules. With proper care and attention, the tropical beauty will grow for decades.

The average lifespan of palm trees at home is 15 years.

Let's consider the features of keeping ornamental palm trees.

Priming

Lighting

Palm trees prefer diffused light. The sun's rays will damage the plant and leave burns, which will cause the plant to die.

Place the pot with the home palm tree in direct sunlight for several hours, after peak hours of solar activity. Some species prefer partial shade. In extreme cases, artificial lighting is used.

Temperature

The tropical plant prefers warm air temperatures from +16℃ in winter to +30℃ in summer.

Some species require cool wintering. When observing the temperature regime, do not forget about drafts. Plants cannot tolerate them.

It is also necessary to monitor the soil temperature: if the roots become too cold, the plant will die. Therefore, you should not place pots with indoor palm trees on the windowsill or cold floor. For many species, the temperature is detrimental - +10℃.

Air humidity

For many species, indoor humidity is important:

Palm trees are undemanding to care. Fulfilling the necessary conditions for the comfortable growth of domestic palm trees will allow you to admire the beauty for many years.

General rules of care

Let's look at the question of how to care for domestic palm trees.

Transfer

How to replant domestic palm trees:

Reproduction

1. Most varieties are propagated only by seeds. For this you need fresh seeds. After 3-4 years, the seed germinates poorly and takes a long time.
2. Before sowing, soak the seeds in water for several days., changing the water daily.
3. Plant in light soil with plenty of sand. When several leaves appear on the palm tree, transplant it into a permanent pot with a diameter of no more than 9 cm.
4. It is better not to use tall pots. TO The root system is greatly elongated.
5. Some species reproduce vegetatively. To do this, separate the branch and sprinkle it with earth.
6. You can transplant the plant when replanting.“Tear up” the root system carefully and only after the new plant has its own roots.

Top dressing

Domestic palm trees do not require frequent feeding. Due to excess fertilizer, the plant will die.

The plant is fed rarely and only in spring and summer. If you replant the plant every year, then feed it only in the second half of the year. During this period, fertilizers in the soil run out. To feed the palm tree, universal fertilizer or flower fertilizer is suitable.

Trimming

Rules for correct pruning:

1. Many species do not require pruning. Palm trees at home grow slowly and therefore are pruned only for aesthetic reasons and dried foliage is removed.
2. There is no need to prune slightly darkened or wilted leaves. until the sheet is completely dry. So, it takes all the nutrients.
3. The rule that frequent pruning promotes rapid growth does not work with domestic palms. In some cases, on the contrary, it will even destroy the plant.
4. Pruning to shorten a palm tree is possible already in adulthood. To do this, use clean and sharp tools.

Never cut off the top of the head - this will cause the plant to die and not grow back.

Diseases and pests

If improperly cared for and the conditions are not met, the palm tree may become sick. Withering and drying of leaves, unhealthy appearance indicate this. Palm trees can also “acquire” small pests.

The pests survive in the area and again settle on the palm tree, drinking the juices.

Problems when growing palm trees at home

In the process of growing palm trees, various difficulties and problems arise. Sometimes the plant does not feel very comfortable. It’s easy to revive a homely beauty if you know what a particular illness means.

Signs	Reasons and what to do?
Leaf tips are dry or brown	Appears when dry. The palm tree does not like dry air or does not receive enough moisture. To do this, increase watering or watering frequency. And also humidify the air by spraying the leaves, you can simply put an open jar of water. This will allow the water to evaporate and provide natural air humidification. Perhaps a palm tree hot from the battery. Move it to the back of the room. Trim off the dried ends without damaging the green parts of the leaf.
Doesn't grow	This happens for various reasons: There is not enough warmth and light. Many species go into torpor at low or very high temperatures and do not grow. Perhaps she is cold. Choose another place where it will be warmer and there will be no drafts.
Turns yellow	Yellow leaves appear when insufficient watering. The palm tree may need more water if you water it frequently. Yellow leaves also appear when insufficient air humidity. Spray frequently: several times a week. Afterwards, reduce the amount to 1-2 times a week. Also provide open containers with water.
Withers	Palm withers after transplantation, expressing dissatisfaction with the change of place. Either you don’t like the soil or the roots were damaged during replanting. If there was no transplant, then probably the roots are rotting. Examine the root system, remove damaged parts. Change the soil and reduce watering.
Leaves are drying	This happens for burns, especially for young plants. Create a shadow or cover from direct rays with a light cloth or paper.
Rust colored stains	Appear when the soil is waterlogged or water stagnates inside the pot: The pot should have drainage and several holes to allow excess water to drain out of the container. Be sure to remove water from the saucer when watering. If the soil is not slightly dry, postpone watering until the next day. Rusty spots are also possible when water salinity. For irrigation, use settled water so that chlorine, ammonia evaporate, and salts precipitate.

Palm trees are considered the most ancient plants that originally reproduced by seeds and pollen. Under natural conditions, they can reach up to 9 meters in height if growth is not artificially restrained. The size of a palm tree at home depends on care. The tallest palm tree in the world is the Wax Palm; its height can reach up to 50 meters. This tree is the main plant symbol of Colombia.

The name comes from the Latin word “palma”, which means “palm”. And this is not surprising, because the leaves of the plant really resemble splayed fingers on the palm of a person.

ON A NOTE! In Greece, an athlete who won a competition was awarded a palm branch. It was at this moment that the catchphrase “palm of championship” was born.

The flowering of an indoor palm tree is similar to the flowering of a calla lily. For example, yucca has large white flowers that look like bells. Basically, the palm tree blooms with small yellow or white flowers on a small cluster.

I would like to remind you that it was not nature that created indoor plants for us, but we are trying to grow them in the hope that they will take root at home. Palma is no exception. There are several types that will feel great at home:

1. Howey Forster.
2. Hamedorea.
3. Rapisa.

Appearance of the plant

On average, a palm tree lives about 150-200 years. For example, a coconut tree takes about 100 years to grow and produces about 450 nuts each year.

ON A NOTE! A coconut can travel thousands of kilometers through water, wash ashore, and germinate there.

There are 2 types of palm trees:

• With fan leaves. They diverge radially from the base. A prominent representative is the date palm.
• Cirrus. The leaves spread parallel to the sides from the vein in the center. A prominent representative is the bamboo palm.

Palms are perennial trees, less often shrubs, most of which have a non-branching trunk, at the top of which a crown grows. They can also grow as vines with thin stems. In tropical and subtropical areas there are up to 1500.

Peculiarities

1. The trunk of a palm tree usually does not branch (an exception is the genus of doom palms). Its thickness is about a meter, and during life it does not thicken. Among the palm trees there are climbing vines, the stems of which are about 2-3 centimeters thick and up to 300 meters long.
2. The inflorescence of a palm tree is a spadix that is of impressive size and branches. Flowers are located on the branches, sometimes they are immersed in its tissue. All inflorescences are surrounded by a veil.
3. What fruits grow on a palm tree? They can be in the form of a nut or a bone or a berry. Ornamental palms produce fruits in the form of small round berries.

Exotic varieties

Let's talk about the types of exotic palm trees and how they bloom.

Decorative palm trees at home look very exotic.

The most common include:

• Brachea. Loves light, but grows best in partial shade. Can't do without spraying. Watering is moderate.
• Boothia. A palm tree whose leaves resemble feathers. Blooms in late spring.
• Washingtonia. Fan palm, pleasing the eye with white blossoms. Can reach a height of up to 18 meters.
• Giophorba. The young representative resembles a vase in appearance. It blooms with small flowers and smells pleasant.
• Hamedorea. It is considered the most unpretentious species and tolerates shade well. Blooms almost all year round.
• Kariota. The leaves of the plant look like a fish tail. It blooms once a year for 5-6 years.
• Liviston. The leaves look like an open fan, reaching a height of up to 2 meters. Ideal for rooms.
• Rapis. It grows as a shrub. Very whimsical.
• Chamerops. Massive palm tree with a dense crown. Blooms from April to June.
• Yucca. A tree-like plant whose leaves are collected in bunches. The white flowers look like bells.
• Govea. An elegant plant reaching a height of up to 2.5 meters. Requires careful care.
• Date palm. The most common species, grows as a lush shrub.
• Sabal. A plant with fan-shaped leaves. The types of palm trees growing in the rooms are absolutely different from each other.
• Trachycarpus. It reaches a height of up to 2.5 meters and grows very slowly. Suitable for apartments.

Where is your homeland?

The plant has become widespread in many regions of the globe. They are more often found on the shores of tropical seas, high in the mountains and in humid forests. A huge number of species grow in Colombia and Madagascar. The fan palm is more common in Spain. The feathery representative can be seen more often in Greece.

Also, some species grow in the territory of the former Soviet Union, for example, on the southern coast of Crimea.

Photo

You can see how the flower looks like an indoor palm tree in the photo here.
Howea Forster

Hamedorea


Rapis


Brachea


Washingtonia


Giophorba


Kariota


Liviston


Hamerops


Yucca

Date palm


Sabal


Trachycarpus

Family

Most palm trees belong to the Palmaceae or Arecaceae family.

What kind of care does it require?

Growing an exotic plant at home is not so easy. It needs proper care:

1. It is recommended to place the pot with the plant on the south side of the house.
2. In summer, the temperature should range from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
3. In summer, be sure to moisturize the crown.
4. From early spring until late autumn, a palm tree blooming at home needs abundant watering. Drying out the soil is unacceptable.
5. Green beauties love light very much, but they cannot be exposed to direct sunlight.
6. The plant is afraid of drafts.
7. The soil for growing should be light and flat.
8. Palm trees need regular feeding and fertilizer.

Reproduction

Hard enough.

Certain species can only be propagated by seed.

There are also plants whose reproduction is allowed by dividing the rhizome or by daughter shoots.

Seed propagation requires careful attention. Seedlings should grow with lower heating, the temperature being about 35 degrees. How long do they grow? The first shoots can be observed after a couple of months. The lifespan of a plant grown in this way is quite long.

Scientific name

The scientific name of the palm is AREGAGEAE.

Diseases and pests

A palm tree at home can encounter the following diseases:

• Root rot.
• Stem rot.
• Penicillosis.
• Spotting.

All problems that may occur with the foliage (brown tips, brown lower leaves, spotting) are associated with improper care.

Pests:

1. Shield.
2. Spider mite.
3. Mealybugs.

Most often, insecticides are used to control pests and diseases, or they try to use traditional methods.

INTERESTING TO KNOW! The palm tree is considered a legendary tree. The people of many countries still worship this plant.

Everyone loves such a magnificent tree as a palm tree. But growing it at home is quite difficult. So isn’t it better to go to warm beaches and admire the plant while relaxing?

The scientific name of the coconut tree is 'Cocos nucifera'. The word 'cocos' probably comes from the Portuguese word 'coco' (monkey), as the coconut slightly resembles a monkey's face. The word 'nucifera' is derived from Latin roots and means 'nut bearer'. Coconut belongs to the palm family. Recognizable at first glance, the trunks, wide at the base, end in a huge crown of plume-shaped leaves. The trunk of the coconut palm is gray and smooth, its surface covered with ring cracks left by fallen leaves.

The growth of a coconut palm occurs in a very unique way, it all starts with fruits - coconuts, which, having fallen to the ground, begin to germinate. Thanks to the reserves of substances in the nut, the sprout that emerges from the nut begins to increase: first it becomes a rosette of small leaves, then they grow. During this period, the coconut does not have a trunk, only the leaves and bud of the palm tree grow; as soon as the bud reaches a certain size, the palm tree begins to grow in height. The formation of a coconut palm occurs in two stages - first the bud develops, then the trunk grows.

Before a coconut reaches a large size, and it can easily grow up to 25 meters, it remains young. Moreover, if you look at a young coconut tree, you will be surprised by its diameter, it is the same as that of an adult coconut. If you take the trunk of any other tree, you will see that a young tree has a trunk no thicker than a little finger, and when it grows, the base of the trunk increases greatly, and continues to grow throughout life - the thin stem turns into a thick trunk. In the coconut palm, the opposite is true, although at the base of the trunk of an adult tree there is also a thickening, but it serves exclusively for storing substances, it does not play any mechanical role - it is a storage of nutrients. At the age of five, a coconut is already capable of bearing fruit. If a coconut tree is not affected by disease or damaged by a cyclone, it can live up to a hundred years. By the rings on the trunk, which are located quite evenly, you can find out the age of the palm tree. Every year the palm tree produces the same number of leaves - this is a constant process and this is one of the reasons why the coconut tree does not tolerate periods of drought or rainy seasons very well - it is a tropical tree.

The branches of coconut palms reach a length of 4–6 meters. More or less curved, hard, emerald green permanent leaves without spines. The leaf crown has about 30 branches, the base of each almost completely covers the trunk and therefore the branches can resist strong winds. There are flowers in the axils of the branches. The coconut palm is self-pollinating, its female flowers located at the bottom of the spikelets have the shape of peas 2–3 cm in diameter, usually there are 20–30, but the number of peas can reach several hundred. Male flowers, more numerous, occupy the upper part of the spikelets. After pollination, the fruit appears. Coconut growth lasts from 4 to 10 months. The coconut palm bears its first fruits at the age of 5–6 years and reaches its maximum yield by 15 years. A mature palm tree can produce 50 to 500 coconuts per year. After 50 years, her productivity drops noticeably. The fruits can be collected green, picking them from palm trees, or picking up mature nuts that have fallen to the ground. It will take almost a whole year before the nut reaches full maturity.

Thanks to the structure of the nut, the coconut palm conquers large spaces. Consisting of fiber and a very hard nut, it can float well, so if a coconut falling from a palm tree ends up in the sea, it is easily carried away by sea currents. Sooner or later, the nut will end up on the shore and begin to sprout, so coconut palms are able to colonize entire beaches in all countries of the world. It is clear that in this way coconut palms cannot get into the mountains, and besides, they would hardly withstand a mountain climate; coconut palms do not survive where the average annual temperature is below 20 °C. If you see a coconut tree, then the average annual temperature in that place is above 20 °C. A coconut can germinate even after several months of floating; with a passing current, it can travel 5 thousand kilometers, but this alone cannot explain such a wide distribution of coconut palms on the planet. They were brought to some parts of the world by humans, such as the Wallis Islands in the South Pacific. They probably came to the Fiji Islands from Southeast Asia 2.5 thousand years BC, and a thousand years later to the islands of Tonga and Samoa. And then in the 4th century they settled in the Marquesas Islands, in the next century on Easter Island, and a hundred years later in Hawaii. Floating on waves or in holds, these nuts reached the west coast of Panama in Central America in the 14th century. Beginning in the 16th century, Portuguese and Spanish sailors introduced them to West Africa and North America. In the Caribbean, the first coconuts appeared in Puerto Rico in the early 17th century. Since that time, coconut palms began to spread throughout the Lesser and Greater Antilles.

The liquid contained in the unripe nuts is drunk as a soft drink. During World War II, this liquid was used as saline solution. But, you can drink coconut juice only at the first stage of coconut ripening, but you should not drink the juice at the last stage of ripening, otherwise you may get an upset stomach. Coconut is rich in potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and zinc. The nut has very high nutritional value. The pulp of the ripe nut is edible and is used in many tropical dishes due to its characteristic aroma. The dried pulp, which is 60% lipid, is called ‘copra’ and is used to make oil used in the preparation of margarine, soap and monoi, a scented oil. Craftsmen use absolutely everything - the trunk, nuts, branches of the coconut tree. Lanterns, drums, sculptures and a huge number of other interesting things - masters compete in ingenuity.

The coconut palm is widely used in Polynesia and is even used to build ships. Immigrants from Southeast Asia - the peoples who settled this area in Oceania 3.5 thousand years ago, crisscrossed all of Polynesia, delving further into the Pacific Ocean to land and populate the islands of the Polynesian Triangle. The people of Wallis retained the ability to build and sail long pirogues. The mast and sail, handmade using ancient techniques, are attached to boats made from the trunk of a coconut tree, which can reach a length of 10 meters.

The coconut palm is a very hardy plant, however, a long-standing disease native to Cayman Island palms is beginning to spread throughout the Caribbean. The disease begins with blackening of the fruits and inflorescences, then the palm branches turn yellow and fall off, leaving the trunk completely bare. This disease causes great damage wherever it appears, but the direction of its spread cannot be accurately predicted. It is probably carried by some insects, but so far the only way to combat it is to cut down diseased palm trees.

Widespread in all tropical latitudes of the planet, the coconut palm is found not only in the coastal strip, but also on the plains. For travelers it has become a symbol of an exotic holiday, but it occupies an important place not only in this idyllic picture, but also in the daily life of the local population. People value the coconut tree for its milk and the pulp of its fruit. Its trunk and branches are used in a wide variety of ways - to create souvenirs, in construction and cosmetology. The coconut palm, like no other tree, is highly valued by people. From Southeast Asia to the Antilles, from Africa to the Pacific Islands, the coconut palm is not just a tree, it is a tree of life.