Comments on: Sylvester Date Palm Tree – Phoenix sylvestris

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:09:49 +0000

@Aaron: Yes, it is possible to have hybrids amongst the Phoenix family of palms. I’ve heard of this specifically with regard to the Roebellini, sometimes to wonderful effect. A Sylvester/Roebellini hybrid could be a wonderful small, decorative palm and I believe I saw one of these at a local nursery recently … very classy.

By: Aaron Schroeder

Aaron Schroeder — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:29:13 +0000

I live out here in California and Florida people seem to be more into their palms than Californians. So maybe I could pick up my acre of palms and bamboos and relocate…anyhow, I have this phoenix palm tree that looks like p. canariensis but yet it has offsets. The trunk is also more slender and is about the size of p. dactylifera. The guys who sold me 3 of these at a local nursery said they thought they were a cross between a p. canariensis and a p. reclinata. Does this sound possible? I have 2 females and 1 male so I can propagate. I also have both male and female p. dactylifera and I’m thinking about cross polinating both ways to see what kind of seeds will come forth. Anyone ever tried this ? P.S. Why does my p. sylvestris look like an oversize p. roebellini?

By: John

John — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:54:12 +0000

My Sylvester Palm was planted last Aug. of 2010.
If is about 8 foot tall and has green growth in the mid section but always turns brown right away. All the lower palm fronds are brown.
Do I need to water, add fertilizer or what??
Please help.

By: Armand

Armand — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:21:38 +0000

Hi Susan,
I live in Youngsville, Louisiana near Lafayette (Cajun country). I had to replace my three beautiful queen palms (approx. 30′ tall) that I have had for 10 years. I replaced them last year with Sylvester palms (5′ stem) & have a sprinkler system also. I noticed some of the new growth are brown & some have fallen over which I cut off. The balls on the palms were around 30-36″ deep. I am having trouble determining if I am watering too much or not enough.
I spoke to my tree company & he said I should soak the palms & allow them to dry out (maybe water once a week). I fertilized them around a month ago & recently trim off all the dead limbs.

By: Scott Gorenc

Scott Gorenc — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:43:34 +0000

We planted a Sylveter Palm 3 weeks ago. The palm was bought from a nursery and has a 6′ trunk. My problem is the frawns are yellowing. The tree has been diamond cut and sprayed w/ Thompson’s Water Seal 1 week after the cut was made. I am concerned the water seal was put on too soon after the cut . Also, the landscapers left the palm approimately 12″ above the ground although the root ball is not exposed (mounded). In addition, the mound has been covered w/ weed cloth and landscaping rock. Does this sound like a normal scenario for a healthy Sylvester palm to survive?
Respectfully,

Scott

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:24:32 +0000

We have a Sylvester Date that seems to have rot in the mid section. My husband has peeled back a few of the spines off the trunk. Will this hurt the tree? What is the proper way to make the trunk look good and clean?

By: Dennis Jarvi

Dennis Jarvi — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:00:26 +0000

I have a sylvester date palm tree in southwest fl. What tool do I use to trim the fronds. I have seen mature trees that are spectacular. I would like mine to look that good but the first frond I trimmed did not look like the other as I used prunning shears.

By: Susan Brian

Susan Brian — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:45:11 +0000

Hi Scott. Sorry to hear about your palm. Just keep watering it. If the bud is not damaged, your palm will recover. I would leave those dying fronds because the nutrients from dying leaves are used for new growth. Some times it can take a palm a over 6 months to recover and produce new growth. Don’t fertilize it. ~Susan Brian

By: Scott Sylvester

Scott Sylvester — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:06:22 +0000

I have a small two year old “namesake” Sylvester date palm tree whose fronds have turned tan after the cold winter wehad in South Carolina. Now that Spring is here, should I cut them off or leave some, or is the entire tree dead? Thanks.

By: Randy

Randy — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:19:05 +0000

Susan,I live in zone 7b in Georgia and they sell Phoenix Sylvestris palms around here as cold hardy for my zone.This is the first year I have seen them for sale around here.What do you think?Do you think if I gave it protection when we drop below 15F,we do get below that but its just every once and a while.Usually or lows in winter or in the 20s,to uper teens and during the day we usually get above freezing.We did drop to 12f for two nights this past winter,we broke a one hundred year old record.I have a 3 gallon size now,should I wait till it gets to mabey a 15 gallon size.Any advise will help.Thanks