It has a straight trunk and grows up to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
When grown in a warm, sunny climate, foxtail palm is a fairly low-maintenance tree.
It is fairly salt tolerant, making it a good candidate for coastal locations.
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It grows about a foot per year reaching its mature height in 20 years.
The foxtail palm has a lifespan of 50 to 100 years.
Select a location with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil.
They need full to partial sun outdoors or bright, direct light indoors.
The soil should be sandy and well-draining soil.
Until they are established, the palms need ample water.
Light
Foxtail palms grow quickly if provided at least 6 hours of bright direct sunlight daily.
The tree tolerates part shade but won’t grow as fast and may be more vulnerable to fungal diseases.
If you want to try growing this palm as a houseplant, give it as much light as possible.
It is difficult to grow foxtail palm indoors unless you have a greenhouse.
Loosen heavy clay soils with sand or plant the tree in a raised mound.
The tree prefers slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.6 to 7.8.
Water
Water young trees regularly until established, which takes up to two years.
Mature palms are drought-tolerant and require irrigation only in cases of extended dry periods.
Let the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry out before watering again, which helps prevent overwatering.
Potted palms need containers with plenty of drainage holes, as waterlogged soil leads toroot rot.
Container-grown plants also require more frequent irrigation.
Water them until water runs out of the drainage holes.
Foxtail palms are not cold-hardy; they require temperatures above 60F or higher.
Consider adding a humidifier toincrease moisture in the air.
Fertilizer
Feed foxtail palm in the spring with a slow-release fertilizer formulated specifically for palm trees.
Use a sharp hand pruner to cut the frond at the base being careful to avoid damaging the trunk.
Propagating Foxtail Palm
Propagation is done by removing suckers or offshoots from the parent tree.
Pot the offshoots in small containers in rich-but-well-draining soil mix.
Water them thoroughly and place them in a warm spot out of direct sunlight.
New fronds should start to form in several weeks.
They cause the foliage on your palm to take on a ragged, wilted, or discolored look.
If untreated, they will kill the tree.
Common Problems With Foxtail Palm
Common problems usually occur due to nutrient deficiencies.
Leaf Spots and Yellowing Fronds
Iron deficiency leads to leaf spots and yellowing fronds.
Dying Fronds
Potassium deficiency is very common in palms growing in sandy soil that leaches nutrients fast.
It is ess prevalent in container plants.
The fronds turn brown, die, and drop prematurely.
Small or Deformed Fronds
Fronds that are small or deformed are because of nutritional deficiencies.
Manganese shortage leads to a condition called ‘frizzletop.’
Leaves emerge stunted and yellow taking on a withered or scorched look as they mature.
Boron deficiency results in leaves that appear hooked or bent with foliage missing at the tips.
Foxtail palm is an attractive tree and it is considered relatively low-maintenance compared to other palm varieties.
The palm tolerates salt spray and wind, which makes it a good choice for landscapes in coastal areas.
No, foxtail palms are monoecious which means the same tree has both male and female flowers.
Brisbane Trees and Gardens.
Foxtail Palm.Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens
Potassium Deficiency in Palms.
