Palm Dictionary

Below you will find commonly accepted standard terms and definitions used in the nursery and landscape industry to describe palm tree environmental behavior and identifying characteristics.

Common name

Most widely used English name for identifying a particular type of palm tree.

Scientific name

The accepted botanical name to identify a particular type of palm tree.

Pronunciation guide

To indicate the way the botanical name is pronounced.

Origin

The geographical part of the world where the plant is native.

Cold Tolerance

Climate zone map system of the United States that ranges from 1 to 11, developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to show the average annual minimum temperature range in 10° F increments. Zone numbers have been subdivided into "A" and "B" areas of 5° F increments, to refine the temperature differences within a climate zone. Climate zones shown, are the geographic areas where we have sold palms for ornamental landscaping, and they are living and growing successfully.

Salt Tolerance

The amount of salt a palm tree can tolerate from both salt water spray on its fronds and saline water in the root system area.

Low: Palm can not tolerate any salt on fronds or roots.
Moderate: Palm that can tolerate some salt spray on fronds and mildly saline water in the root system.
High: Palm that can be planted in a coastal location exposed to salt spray and saline water in the root system.

Wind Tolerance

The amount of wind speed a palm can tolerate before sustaining frond damage, terminal bud damage, trunk damage, or cause the palm to fall over.

Low: Normal to breeze wind conditions, up to 34 MPH.
Moderate: Tropical force winds from 35 to 49 MPH.
High: Gale force winds from 50 to 74 MPH.
Hurricane: Hurricane force winds of 75 MPH and over.

Moisture Tolerance

The amount of humidity (Water content percentage the air can hold for a given temperature before forming precipitation.) The palm can tolerate before effecting its fronds, grow, resistance to disease, resistance to fungus, or health.

Low: Under 50%
Moderate: 50% to 74%
High: 75% or greater

Drought Tolerance

The ability of a palm to live and grow with various amounts of natural rainfall, over various time intervals, without supplemental watering, once established.

Low: Requires regular supplemental watering during periods of low rainfall.
Moderate: Requires some watering, during periods of drought conditions.
High: Does not require supplemental watering during periods of drought conditions.

Light Requirements

Amount of light intensity required to maintain palm growth.

Low: Deep shade or interior lighting conditions (500 foot candles or less).
Moderate: Part to light shaded areas (500 to 5000 foot candles).
High: Full sunlight (over 5000 foot candles).

Soil Requirements

The type of soil characteristics that are conducive to normal palm growth.

Acid: Soil with pH of less than 7.0
Alkaline: Soil with pH higher of 7.0
Well-drained: Soil that does not remain water-logged and has good aeration.
Wet/Moist: Soil that never completely dries out.
Wide: Palm that can grow in a broad tolerance of soil types.

Nutritional Requirements

The relative fertilization needs for good palm health.

Low: Palm needs no supplemental fertilization under normal landscape conditions.
Moderate: Palm requires periodic fertilization to maintain good growth.
High: Palm requires regular fertilization to maintain normal growth and survive.

Loss rate after initial time of transplant

Within the first 30 days after transplant, the terminal bud has died, or the palm shows that it is dead.

Loss rate after six months of transplant

The period from 31 to 182 days after transplant, where the the terminal bud is dead, or the palm has not establish any new root growth, has turned color, and the palm has died.