Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC BY 3.0

Queen Palm

Syagrus romanzoffiana

  • Fast Growing
  • Moderate Salt Tolerance
  • Not Self-Cleaning
  • Heavy Fruit Drop

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
Not yet checked.
Preparation
Not applicable. Not a food plant
Hazard type
No poison information was found in the sources used. That is not a statement that the plant is safe.
Hazard route
Not yet checked.
How complete this information is
We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

ASPCA has no page for this plant, and no other source we use covers it. That is not a statement that it is safe. Keep dogs, cats and horses from eating it. This differs from a plant ASPCA has evaluated and rated non-toxic: it means not assessed, not cleared. That said, ASPCA DOES list and rate several other true palms in the same family (Areca, Majesty, Kentia, Lady, Parlor, Dwarf/Good Luck, Manila, Canary Date, Belmore Sentry) as Non-Toxic, a consistent family-level (Arecaceae) pattern worth noting for context, though not a substitute for a species-specific verdict. Important distinction: several very common 'palm' names actually belong to CYCADS, an entirely unrelated and far more dangerous plant group: Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) and Cardboard Palm (Zamia furfuracea) are both cycads confirmed severely/potentially fatally toxic by ASPCA (liver failure), and neither is a true palm at all despite the name. Don't assume 'palms are generally fine' across that line. Separately, several non-university sources note fallen Queen Palm fruit and seeds as a physical choking/GI-obstruction hazard for dogs given their size and hardness: a mechanical risk, not a chemical toxicity claim, and not independently verified against a university or ASPCA source; included as general common-sense caution only, clearly labeled as such rather than as sourced toxicity data.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

USDA 9b and warmer, tolerating temperatures above 25 degrees F: described as one of the hardiest tropical-looking palms for marginal climates (UF/IFAS EDIS). Well suited to Central Florida.

Mature size

Up to 50 feet tall with a 20-25 foot spread at maturity (UF/IFAS EDIS).

Family

Arecaceae (true palm family)

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. UF/IFAS EDIS, ENH-767: Syagrus romanzoffiana: Queen Palm
  2. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Queen Palm
  3. Clemson HGIC, Palms & Cycads
  4. UF/IFAS EDIS ST609 (ENH-767), Syagrus romanzoffiana: Queen Palm, Broschat, rev. 10/2013

How we choose sources

Wishlists live in the app

Wishlists are part of the Plot & Petal app, which is coming soon. Nothing is added to a wishlist from this page.

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