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Manila Palm

Manila Palm

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Manila Palm fruit

Manila Palm fruit

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  syn. Veitchia Merrillii, Christmas Palm

Description:

This variety is used as an ornamental plant in warm temperate regions; trim away dead foliage to enhance appearance; will slowly mature into a stately palm and make an excellent landscape focal point

Ornamental Features

Manila Palm is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The fruits are showy red drupes carried in abundance from mid fall to mid winter. It has attractive green deciduous foliage. The narrow pinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. It has panicles of creamy white star-shaped flowers hanging below the branches in late summer. The smooth gray bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Manila Palm is a deciduous tropical plant with a strong central leader and a towering form, with a high canopy of foliage concentrated at the top of the plant. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This tropical plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease
• Self-Seeding

Manila Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Manila Palm will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tropical plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Manila Palm is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.