Royal Palm Plant Care
Roystonea oleracea O.F.Cook
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Roystonea oleracea, sometimes known as the Caribbean royal palm, palmiste, imperial palm or cabbage palm, is a species of palm which is native to the Lesser Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. It is also reportedly naturalized in Guyana and on the islands of Mauritius and Réunion in the Indian Ocean.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun
65–85°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Royal Palm?
Water Royal Palm every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 65–85°F (18–29°C) and 50–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Royal Palm Native To?
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Cayman Islands
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Venezuela
- Virgin Islands, British
- Virgin Islands, U.S.
What Is the Royal Palm?
Royal Palm (Roystonea oleracea) belongs to the Arecaceae family within the Roystonea genus. Royal Palm is native to the Lesser Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. Royal Palm is also known as Cabbage Palm, Florida Royal Palm.
Royal Palm displays a tall, single-trunk palm growth habit, reaching up to 50 ft tall with a spread of approximately 25 ft. Royal Palm produces creamy white flowers in large clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 36 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Royal Palm?
Roystonea oleracea requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Royal Palm Need?
Royal Palm thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Royal Palm Prefer?
Roystonea oleracea grows best at temperatures of 65–85°F. Royal Palm prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–85°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Royal Palm?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Royal Palm to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Royal Palm?
Feed Royal Palm every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Royal Palm?
Repot every 2-3 years. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Royal Palm?
Royal Palm can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to cuban royal palm plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Royal Palm Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Royal Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Royal Palm?
Royal Palm is susceptible to spider mites, palm aphids. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Royal Palm Need?
Royal Palm grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Royal Palm is native to the Lesser Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. In cooler regions, grow Royal Palm as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Royal Palm is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Roystonea genus — compare its care with other Roystonea species on PlantoScan.
Roystonea is part of the Arecaceae plant family — browse all Arecaceae genera and species.
Royal Palm thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Roystonea Species
Other Roystonea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Roystonea oleracea O.F.Cook, family Arecaceae (first published in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 28: 554 (1901)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Royal Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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