A ribbon palm for your landscape

With all the palms to choose from in our area, selecting one to fit your landscape and our climate can be challenging.  Fortunately, the Charlotte County UF/IFAS Extension Office can assist.  This week I would like to recommend a uncommon palm that I think more people should try – the ribbon palm.  Stately, exotic and dependably hardy for our area, the ribbon palm is worth a look.

Originally from Australia, ribbon palms grow really well in our section of Florida.  Hardy down to at least twenty degrees F, or USDA Hardiness 9 to 11, you do not have to worry about freezes with this palm.  Growing upwards to thirty-feet tall, we have had a ribbon palm in our Demonstration Garden for years and it is likely at least twenty-five feet in height.  The ribbon palm is very graceful, not only because of its slender build and equally balanced crown, but also due to its unique ribbon-like fronds that give the canopy an almost weeping appearance.  The fronds are split into many segments that look like dangling ribbons.  The leaf stem is armed with short teeth, so be careful when handling.

Plant your ribbon palm in a full sun to part shade area in well-drained soil.  Water to get the palm established, but consider it drought tolerant thereafter.  Small specimens can be kept in containers, but relatively fast growth will have you looking for a permanent site in short order.  Use ribbon palms as single specimens, planted in groups of three or along the front of a building.  Perhaps one of the nicest plantings in our area is in front of the Mid-County Regional Library on Forrest Nelson Boulevard.   These have been in for several years and nicely frame one side of the front entrance.

Where can you find a ribbon palm in our area?  Occasionally they may be found in the local box store garden centers, otherwise, check the  local family-run nurseries for a selection of these fine palms.  For more information on all types of palms suitable for local area, please call our Master Gardener volunteers on the Plant Lifeline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer.  Don't forget to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the area.  Please check this link for a complete list of site locations, dates and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.

Resources:

McKenzie, M., Andreu, M. G., Friedman, M. H. & Quintana, H. V. (2013) Livistona decipiens, Ribbon Fan Palm.  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

Scheper, J. (2009) Livistona decipiens, Floridata.com, Tallahassee, FL.