Puerto Rican Royal Palm

Roystonea borinquena is a fast-growing royal palm native to Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. Croix and nearby islands. Its smooth gray trunk swells at the base, with long fronds that arch above the crown. In tropical landscapes it becomes a tall, prominent ornamental tree. ## Form and season The U.S. Forest Service reports a typical height of 12–18 m, with exceptional trees reaching 26.4 m. Trees may begin flowering in their seventh year and can bloom throughout the year. Their whitish flowers provide nectar for honey bees, and their fat-rich fruits are eaten by birds. ## Site This palm grows on moist, well-drained soils and can also establish on partly compacted fill. The Forest Service describes it as a widely planted ornamental that withstands hurricane-force winds. Allow generous space for its mature trunk and crown. [U.S. Forest Service species profile](https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/43217) and [Kew Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:669654-1) document its range and identity. ## Maintenance Keep the root zone moist while preserving good drainage, and give the palm generous overhead clearance as it grows.