Royal Palm Die Off

[Bill Harrison]

I am experiencing a die off of numerous Royal Palms on my property in Leilani Estates. The crowns are collapsing and turning brown. It seems to be spreading from tree to tree. Any help, advice or referrals would be welcome.

[Rene Siracusa]

I admit no expertise in palms. Suggest you contact CTAHR or the Palm Society.

[cinnaminnacat]

Check your palms for borers, beetles, etc.


In particular, check for rhinocerus beetle: a new invasive pest on cocunut and other palms.

http://m.kitv.com/news/invasive-coconut-...r/23855732

[Justin]

I really hope its not the rhinocerous beetle, that would be awful.

[Justin]

Sadly, I showed up at my place in Leilani after spending some time on the mainland - same thing. After asking around, the most plausible answer (in my case at least) is lightning strike.

[cinnaminnacat]

Good observation.

Lightening strikes are definitely a problem for any tall tree. Palms, most certainly.

[Punatic007]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Harrison

I am experiencing a die off of numerous Royal Palms on my property in Leilani Estates. The crowns are collapsing and turning brown. It seems to be spreading from tree to tree. Any help, advice or referrals would be welcome.

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Two large Triangle palms died in the same fashion in my yard. The only thing suspicious I found upon immediate inspection of a toppled crown was a huge amount of fire ants colonies. The land is treated yet there were always a few ants around. That's where they must have been living.

[Justin]

Punatic, it's somewhat common for Triangle Palms to die in Leilani and other spots on the Windward side that get substantial amounts of rain. When it rains a lot, particularly for weeks at a time, the crown fills up with water (Triangles don't drain that well because of the crown shape), and rot sets in. I lost two that way a few years back, and with all the rain in November this year, it wouldn't surprise me if that's what happened to yours.

[MattKarma]

Stands to reason ... hmmm... tropical plants, don't like water. Very Logical.

"Royal palms are very fond of water and thrive on supplemental irrigation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roystonea

[KiminPL]

Justin was referring to Punatic's Triangle palms, not the royals. Roystonea like all the water they can get. Dypsis decaryi, the Triangles, are happier with a drier cliamte. They grow better in Kona and Honolulu, but tend to rot in East Hawaii from all the wet. Different palms, different requirements. I hope there has been a post-mortem of the royals to determine the cause. Did they all die at once, or sequentially? If fronds are trimmed when green, thus creating open wounds, banana moth could be another culprit.