Palms

Palms (Arecaceae) - Ancient Plants for Every Climate

Palms or Arecaceae include approximately 200 genera with more than 2,600 species that grow from the tropical belt to the polar circle. Bamboo is also closely related to palms. Most palms are characterized by large compound evergreen leaves. However, palms display enormous diversity in their physical characteristics. Contrary to popular belief, palms can be found not only in warm areas near seas, but also in dry deserts or in Nordic countries where temperatures drop well below freezing. Among species that naturally grow outside the tropics and subtropics is, for example, the European Fan Palm - Chamaerops humilis, which tolerates temperatures down to -15°C and occurs in France. However, there are even more frost-resistant palms, mostly originating from the mountains of the Near and Far East, such as Trachycarpus fortunei or Nannorrhops ritchiana, which are hardy down to -20°C! Trachycarpus fortunei, also known as the Windmill Palm, is even cultivated on the Faroe Islands, which lie between Norway and Iceland!

Palms have undergone long evolution and have therefore been able to adapt to acidic, calcareous, dry and wet soils. After all, the first palm species demonstrably grew as far back as 69-70 million years ago. Their fossils have been found.

Palms have found very wide application in human civilization. Due to their undemanding nature, they have been cultivated for coconut products, oil, dates, palm syrup, carnauba wax, nuts, rattan, raffia and palm wood. Among the important palms was especially the Date Palm.

Growing Palms from Seeds

Palms usually produce large round seeds with a hard shell about 2cm in diameter. The seeds must first be soaked in warm water and left in it for about 3 days. The water must be changed daily to prevent mold. Palms grow predominantly in sandy, well-draining soils. Most palms do not tolerate waterlogging well. Seeds will germinate at the earliest after 6-8 weeks, during which time the substrate needs to be kept moist and warm. Winter is ideal for germination, as you can place the container with seeds on a radiator or on a computer.