Palmera Real
Roystonea regia
Native Region
Cuba, Florida, Mexico, Central America
Max Height
20-30 meters (65-100 feet)
Family
Arecaceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Distribution in Costa Rica
Legend
Elevation
0-1200m
Regions
- Guanacaste
- Puntarenas
- Alajuela
- San José
- Heredia
- Limón
- Cartago
Season
Flowering
Mar-Jun
Fruiting
Jun-Sep
Palmera Real (Royal Palm)
The Royal Palm (Roystonea regia) lives up to its regal name. With its perfectly smooth cement-gray trunk, bright green crownshaft, and crown of gracefully arching fronds, it's considered one of the world's most beautiful palms. This iconic tree has become synonymous with tropical elegance, lining grand boulevards and adorning prestigious estates throughout Costa Rica and the Caribbean.
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Roystonea regia
- Family
- Arecaceae (Palms)
- Max Height
- 20-30 m (65-100 ft)
- Trunk Diameter
- 40-60 cm
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Known For
- Boulevard plantings
iNaturalist Observations
Community-powered species data
4500
Observations
186
Observers
📸 Photo Gallery
Photos sourced from iNaturalist community science database. View all observations →↗
Taxonomy and Classification
- Roystonea: Named after American general Roy Stone (1836-1905) who served in Puerto Rico - regia: Latin for "royal" - referring to its majestic appearance - Palmera Real: Spanish for "Royal Palm" - National tree of Cuba
Common Names
| Language/Region | Common Name(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Royal Palm, Cuban Royal Palm | Majestic appearance |
| Spanish | Palmera Real, Palma Real | Royal palm |
| Spanish (Cuba) | Palma Real Cubana | Cuban royal palm |
| Portuguese | Palmeira-real | Royal palm |
| French | Palmier royal | Royal palm |
Physical Description
Overall Form
The Royal Palm is a tall, single-trunked palm with an unmistakable silhouette. Its smooth, cement-gray trunk is often slightly swollen in the middle (although this varies). The bright green crownshaft—a smooth cylinder of tightly wrapped leaf bases—sits atop the trunk, crowned by 15-20 graceful pinnate fronds that arch elegantly outward.
Distinctive Features
Trunk
- Color: Cement gray, smooth
- Texture: Completely smooth (no rings)
- Shape: Columnar, sometimes swollen
- Base: May have slight swelling
- Surface: Polished appearance
- Scars: Leaf scars barely visible
Crownshaft
- Color: Bright glossy green
- Length: 1-2 meters
- Function: Encases emerging fronds
- Texture: Smooth, waxy
- Shape: Cylindrical column
- Visibility: Highly distinctive
Fronds (Leaves)
- Type: Pinnate (feather-like)
- Length: 4-6 meters
- Leaflets: 200+ per frond
- Arrangement: Arching elegantly
- Color: Dark green above, lighter below
- Drop: Clean, leaving smooth trunk
Flowers & Fruit
- Inflorescence: Below crownshaft
- Flowers: Small, cream colored
- Fruit: Round drupes, 1 cm
- Color when ripe: Dark purple to black
- Season: Summer months
- Wildlife value: Bird food
The Perfect Palm Silhouette
Landscape Architecture
Royal Palms are the gold standard for formal tropical landscape design. Their perfectly uniform growth habit, clean trunks, and matching crowns make them ideal for creating dramatic palm-lined avenues, entrance drives, and ceremonial spaces. A row of Royal Palms announces arrival at somewhere important.
Design Advantages
- Uniform, predictable growth
- Self-cleaning (drops fronds cleanly)
- Tall, slender profile
- Minimal debris
- Long-lived (75+ years)
- Hurricane resistant when established
Classic Applications
- Grand entrance avenues
- Boulevard plantings
- Hotel and resort grounds
- Government buildings
- Memorial gardens
- Estate driveways
Cultural Significance
National Symbol of Cuba
The Royal Palm is the national tree of Cuba, appearing on the country's coat of arms since 1906. It represents the independence and strength of the Cuban people. The tree's tall, straight trunk reaching toward the sky is seen as a symbol of freedom and aspiration. Cubans call it simply "La Palma Real."
Historical Uses
| Part | Traditional Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fronds | Thatch roofing (guano) | Durable traditional roofing |
| Crownshaft | Palm heart (palmito) | Edible, though wasteful |
| Fruit | Pig feed | High oil content |
| Trunk | Construction (split) | Rural building material |
| Roots | Traditional medicine | Various folk remedies |
| Whole tree | Landscaping | Ornamental icon |
Distribution in Costa Rica
While not native to Costa Rica, the Royal Palm has been widely planted throughout the country since colonial times. It graces the capital city's parks and boulevards, adorns hotels and estates, and has naturalized in some areas. Costa Ricans may encounter native Roystonea species in neighboring regions, but R. regia is the most commonly planted.
Where to See Royal Palms
| Location | Setting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San José | Parks, boulevards | Parque Nacional, La Sabana |
| Alajuela | Central park, estates | Common ornamental |
| Guanacaste | Hotels, resorts | Coastal properties |
| Limón | Port city streets | Caribbean influence |
| Puntarenas | Coastal resorts | Tropical ambiance |
Growing Requirements
Cultivation
| Factor | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical to subtropical | Tolerates brief cool periods |
| Temperature | 18-35°C (64-95°F) | Damaged below 0°C |
| Rainfall | 1200-2000mm annually | Tolerates some drought when established |
| Soil | Well-drained, fertile | Tolerates various soils |
| Light | Full sun | Best growth in open sun |
| Propagation | Seeds only | 3-4 months to germinate |
Planting Tips
- Plant in full sun location
- Ensure good drainage
- Water regularly when young
- Fertilize with palm fertilizer
- Protect from frost when young
- Allow space for mature size
Care Requirements
- Generally low maintenance
- Remove dead fronds
- Never "hurricane cut" (harmful)
- Watch for lethal yellowing disease
- Apply micronutrients if deficient
- Protect trunk from damage
Ecological Role
Wildlife Value
Food Source
- Fruits eaten by many birds
- Parrots, toucans, parakeets
- Fruit-eating bats
- Small mammals
- Seeds dispersed by wildlife
- Nectar for bees
Habitat Function
- Cavity nesting sites (old palms)
- Roosting perches
- Foraging substrate
- Urban wildlife corridors
- Landscape connectivity
- Microhabitat in crown
Comparison with Other Palms
| Species | Common Name | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Roystonea oleracea | Caribbean Royal Palm | Taller, thinner trunk |
| Roystonea regia | Cuban Royal Palm | Classic form, gray trunk |
| Cocos nucifera | Coconut Palm | Leaning trunk, coconuts |
| Washingtonia robusta | Mexican Fan Palm | Fan-shaped fronds, rough trunk |
| Bactris gasipaes | Pejibaye | Spiny trunk, clustering |
Interesting Facts
Related Species in Costa Rica
| Species | Common Name | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Bactris gasipaes | Pejibaye | Native, spiny, edible fruit |
| Acrocomia aculeata | Coyol | Native, very spiny, wine palm |
| Elaeis guineensis | African Oil Palm | Introduced, oil production |
| Cocos nucifera | Coconut Palm | Introduced, coastal, coconuts |
| Prestoea decurrens | Palmito | Native, cloud forest |
References and Resources
| Resource | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| iNaturalist | Observations | https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62672-Roystonea-regia |
| GBIF | Distribution Data | https://www.gbif.org/species/2733035 |
| IUCN Red List | Conservation Status | https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/38571/2814492 |
