Christmas palm trees are a mainstay for landscapers and gardeners in warmer regions, such as parts of the southern U.S. The trees are on the small side, topping out at about 20 feet. They are self-cleaning, which means that older fronds fall cleanly away from the tree when they die and do not require extra effort or leave unsightly scars. Christmas palms, or Veitchia merrillii, look great when grouped together in a small stand, highlighted by their bright red berries. Other reasons to like the Christmas palm include:
Can easily be container-grown in cooler climates.
Horizontal canopy makes them good for shade.
Low maintenance, with few pests or diseases for the gardener to worry about.
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Christmas palm trees grow best when they receive at least 6 hours of sun a day, although they can tolerate some light shade.
Watering
Christmas palms like 1 to 2 inches of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering.
Fertilizing
Use a fertilizer formulated for palm trees, which need elements like boron.
Planting and Care
by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on February 14, 2022
Planting instructions
Choose a location with well-draining soil that gets good sun. If planting more than one, allow about 8 feet between trees. Dig a hole that’s twice as wide as the sapling’s root ball and just as deep. Place the root ball in the hole so that its top is level with the soil grade. Backfill with soil that’s been enriched with well-rotted manure or compost. Tamp down soil as you go to eliminate air pockets.
Water your newly planted tree thoroughly. Apply an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the tree’s root zone to help conserve water. If planting in a container, make sure it has good drainage and enough space for the roots to grow.
Watering and nutrients
Your Christmas palm will do well with 1 to 2 inches of water a week unless you’re experiencing drought conditions, in which case you would give it an additional inch. For container-grown palms, water whenever the top inch of soil seems dry, allowing excess water to drain out. Palms do not like soggy roots, although they do appreciate consistently moist soil. Use a fertilizer for your palm that is formulated specifically for palm trees. It should contain micronutrients such as manganese and boron, which are often deficient in Christmas palms. Apply to outdoor trees three times during the growing season. Indoor trees should be fed in spring and summer.
Pollination
Palm trees do not self-pollinate, so you’ll need several Christmas palms for fruit to occur. The fruit is not edible, and some gardeners prune it out when it ripens so it doesn’t leave a mess when it falls. The fruit ripens to a bright red at about the same time as the December holiday season, making the tree a festive focal point in a garden or patio.
Pruning
Christmas palms don’t need a lot of pruning. Remove damaged or diseased fronds whenever you see them, and if you prefer, you can cut down the fruit stems to avoid a mess at the base of the tree. Most fronds will naturally fall off the tree as they die and are easily collected.
Pests, diseases, and animals
Christmas palms are fairly carefree as far as diseases and pests go. They are, however, susceptible to a disease called lethal yellowing, which affects a number of palm species. Planthopper insects, which insecticides do not easily control, carry this disease from tree to tree. Watch for blackened flowers or fruit, which are the first signs of this disease, followed by yellowing fronds. If your tree has this disease, your only recourse is to remove it as soon as possible so it does not spread to other trees.
Achieving maximum results
If you find the Christmas palm attractive but live in the frozen north, don’t despair. The Christmas palm is easily grown as a patio plant. The key is to bring it inside if your temperatures dip below about 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Colder temperatures will impact growth, and anything below 30 degrees Fahrenheit will kill it. To maintain your indoor palm, keep it well-watered and in a spot where it gets as much sun as possible.
Keeping the leaves clean is important for indoor palms, as dust can encourage insects and interfere with the tree’s ability to photosynthesize the sun’s rays. Clean the fronds with a damp cloth, spritzing them with water and rubbing gently to remove dust. Repot your tree every few years, preferably in the spring before it blooms.
FAQs
How long does a Christmas palm live?
Christmas palms are fairly hardy. If given enough water and kept away from cold weather, you can expect your Christmas palm to live anywhere up to 50 years.
Why is it called a Christmas palm?
The Christmas palm doesn't look like a Christmas tree. It gets its common name from the vibrant red berries that appear at roughly the same time as the holiday season. The contrast of the red berries with the dark green foliage is both attractive and a festive reminder of the holiday.
Can I plant a Christmas palm near my house?
Unlike some trees, the Christmas palm has a fairly small root zone, so it is more suited than many trees for planting near a house or other structure. Palms don't have a single, deep taproot but instead have hundreds of smaller roots that may spread out only a few feet from the base of the trunk. A good rule of thumb is to consider the roots spreading out about as much as the tree's canopy — which in the case of the Christmas palm, is about 8 feet in diameter.
I love it! I ended getting 2 palms in the pot! Doing very well!
Looks great! Good height and healthy .
Anonymous
Verified Buyer May 19, 2020 at 12:38pm
Cheerful palms
I've been enjoying our Christmas palm during our stay at home order. It brings sunshine and cheer inside our home. Reminds us to sway with difficult times, stand tall, and look forward to easier days!!
Anonymous
Verified Buyer November 5, 2019 at 4:34pm
Palm Christmas tree
Package received without damage and trees are healthy. Only one thing is that one pot has 3 small plants. I just need three trees, now I have total of nine. The ad does not say one pot of Palm christmas tree has a bush of three Palm christmas trees. I separated them and planning where to plant all nine of them.
Deer Resistant
Mature height
10-25 ft.
Mature width
5-10 ft.
Sunlight requirement
Full-Partial
Growth rate
Moderate
Botanical name
Adonidia merrillii
Shipping exclusions
AZ
Grows Well In Zones
4-11 patio / 10-11 outdoors
Growing Zones: 4-11 patio / 10-11 outdoors i
Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
Christmas Palm
