The Christmas palm is a fast-growing, tropical perennial in the palm family (Arecaceae). It is native to the Philippines but grown the world over in warm climates. The genus name means “little Adonis” and refers to the handsome but small stature of the palm. The species epithet honors early 20th-century American botanist Elmer D. Merrill, an authority on the Philippine flora. This palm can be grown in full sun or partial shade. It is not fussy about soil type, but it does require regular irrigation. It is highly sensitive to frost and freezing temperatures so may be best planted in a container that can be moved indoors during the winter. Container plants are often sold with three plants per pot, giving the illusion of a multi-stemmed palm. This palm is susceptible to lethal yellowing, a disease that devastated susceptible palms in Florida. Outdoor specimens of this palm in Florida periodically contract the disease and succumb quickly. The disease is not transmitted through the seeds, and seedlings germinate and grow so quickly that the palm has never lost its appeal among gardeners and growers. The Christmas Palm, with its slender gray trunk, grows quickly to about 6 feet, then slows, retaining its shape until it reaches its maximum height of 25 feet. These solitary palms support arching green leaves that are 4 to 5 feet long, with stiffly erect leaflets. In mid-summer, conspicuous clusters of cream-colored flowers appear below the leaf crown, followed by 1-inch green fruit, which ripen to red. The common name, Christmas palm, refers to the time of the year when the green fruit turns red. The red and green fruits seem to carry a Christmas theme. Suited to small residential landscapes and can be used as a street tree in tropical climates. It can be grown as a large houseplant or as a greenhouse or conservatory subject. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to an incurable phytoplasma disease called lethal yellowing. It can also suffer from boron deficiency. Use a palm-specific fertilizer when growing in low-nutrient soil.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
4-5' arching green pinnate leaves with a short tomentose petiole where the leaflets are oriented upward, forming a V when viewing from the end of the leaf. The upper leaflet has a prominent mid-rib. The leaflet tips are irregularly jagged.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower detail
Small cream inconspicuous perfect flowers (male and female parts in each flower) that bloom in summer at the case of the canopy followed by light green 1" fruit.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Ovoid beaked fruit grows in clusters. Immature fruits are pale green and turn scarlet red when ripe around Christmas, hence the common name Christmas Palm.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark can be rough or smooth, slender and gray.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Phillippines
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Winter
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Flowering Tree; Foundation Planting; Small groups; Small Tree; Specimen; Street Tree; Understory Tree
Garden tags
#tropical palm #cycad #low maintenance #evergreen tree #evergreen #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #winter interest #tropical tree #salt tolerant #palm #container plant #tropical feel #houseplant