Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Tuesday - July 21, 2009
From: Alexandria , VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Palm plant with lower inches browning in Alexandria VA
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Palm plant 10 years old, about 5' tall, single trunk approximately 1" diameter, reddish green leaves about 12 to 14 inches long, original owner. All leaves on the lower 2 inches of plant leaves are brown, no others above are brown?ANSWER:
You didn't say which palm you have, and there are hundreds of different species with the name "palm." We found 7 species in our Native Plant Database that are native to North America, but none of them is native to Virginia, as it is just a little too far north to be hospitable to the sub-tropical palm. One, Sabal palmetto (cabbage palmetto) comes the closest to Virginia, being native to North and South Carolina. We are going to use that as an example, and do some research to see what causes palm leaves to turn brown. We will also give you the names and pictures of the palms native to North America in our Native Plant Database. We will not have any non-native palms to show you, as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the use, care and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown.
Rhapidophyllum hystrix (needle palm)
Roystonea elata (Florida royal palm)
Sabal mexicana (Rio Grande palmetto)
Sabal palmetto (cabbage palmetto) - northernmost palm in North America, native as near as North Carolina
Washingtonia filifera (California fan palm)
From the Conditions Comments page in our Native Plant Database on Sabal palmetto (cabbage palmetto) we excerpted this information:
"Conditions Comments: Cabbage palm is not known to occur naturally over 75 miles from the coast. It is immune to salt spray. Old leaves brown and hang from the base of the crown. Unless they are trimmed away, this creates great habitat for desirable birds and undesirable rodents. The decision to trim or not to trim is a matter of preference. The tree does fine either way. A delicacy known as swamp cabbage is produced from the bud or embryonic leaves of the tree, thus the common name. Removing the bud kills the palm so this practice is discouraged. Trunk wounds also seriously harm or kill the tree." Dead leaves may persist on the trunk, hanging from the crown to form a "skirt". In urban situations it is recommended that these be removed, as they create shelter for rats and other undesirable creatures.
If none of this helps, try the book from University of Florida Press Ornamental Palm Horticulture by Timothy K. Broschat and Alan W. Meerow. Find some Q&A from this book that might apply to your situation.
From the Image Gallery
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Clear pungent, liquid oozing from oak tree
June 28, 2010 - I have a large oak that over the last few days has been oozing a pungent, non sticky, clear substance from one specific site (no damage) about the size of a dime. It's attracting quite a few gnats, m...
view the full question and answer
Rust-colored spots on Lantana?
June 05, 2009 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I live in Cibolo TX and my lantana plants are about 3 years old. They have done exceedingly well until this spring. The leaves have developed brown, rust colored spots and the le...
view the full question and answer
Treating suspected drought-stressed live oak
July 13, 2011 - I have a live oak with excessive leaf drop - it was planted approx. 20 year ago surrounded by heavy pavers. very little grass - I did not plant the tree - I have noticed in the last few years the dro...
view the full question and answer
Non-native red-tip photinias dying in San Antonio
August 20, 2009 - A 17 year old Red tip Photinia in a hedge shows signs of dying. The main stalks are quite large and offshoots from two of the stalks have brittle, drooping leaves. The center of the plant looks norm...
view the full question and answer
Butterfly bushes and weed killer in Pueblo West CO
August 27, 2011 - I have 3 previously healthy butterfly bushes that have one by one developed masses of tiny yellowish-green compact leaves. The entire bush went from its normal healthy appearance to something that res...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |