Due to the variety of palm species, the Mediterranean plants also differ greatly in their growth and shape. When you think of palm trees, many have in mind plants with tall trunks and tufted leaves. It is often overlooked that there are also small varieties that thrive at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters and those that sprout in the light undergrowth of extensive forests.
Palm trees grow quite slowly
Palm trees grow rather slowly
Many palm trees take years to reach a respectable size. Before the trunk is formed, palm trees first grow in width. The reason for this is that, unlike trees, these plants do not show any secondary growth. They only have a single growth point, the heart of the palm, from which the leaves are formed. This results:
- With almost all palm species, it takes a few years for the primary growth in thickness to be completed.
- Once the final strength is reached, the palm tree only grows upwards.
- The stem forms from the dead leaves that are shed.
- Palm trunks can look completely different depending on the species: There are smooth, rough, scarred and thorny trunks.
- The heart of the palm pushes itself up, creating the typical tuft.
leaves and fruits
All palms form leaves, which consist of the leaf base, the petiole and the leaf blade. There are simple or doubly pinnate foliage but also palm leaves that resemble a flat fan. As different as the stem and leaf of the individual species look, the fruits and flowers are just as different.
tips
The growth of the palm tree can be positively influenced by good care. If you water and fertilize sufficiently but not too much in spring, when the growth period begins, the palm tree will form numerous new fronds. Also meeting the lighting needs, depending on the species being cared for, is important in this context.