Travelers Palm
With its exceptionally beautiful leaf display the travelers palm would make a great addition.
It will turn any yard into a little slice of paradise.
Although they aren't a member of the palm family. I have included them because of their common names and close association to them.
Travelers Palm TreesAppearance and Plant Family
They are actually members of the bird-of-paradise plant family.
The traveler palm is more closely related to the
banana tree family than the palm tree one.
The reason is because of the shape of the leaves and it is such fast grower.
The little one we have in our yard was just planted not long ago and in less than six months it has more than doubled in size.
Their leaves are almost exactly like that of the banana tree, and not like a palm at all.
They don’t have branches either just the large leaves that first appear like a new green stick, then once they are full size-they unroll themselves. Unfortunately these trees don’t grow any kind of edible fruit but they have one of the coolest leaf patterns going.
Young Travelers Palm
Travelers leafGrowth
The wonderful travelers palm trees require a lot of sunlight and only grow in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
They could not withstand freezing.
They thrive in well drained soil, with some fertilizer applied every 2 months or so.
They need a fair amount of water but their roots should not be left standing in water.
Great for landscapes but they get too big, too fast to have as a container or indoor palm.
The traveler palm grows much the same way as the sago palm, it starts out it is just a bunch of leaves coming straight out of the ground.
You won’t see the trunk of the young tree until it is big enough around to support a good size “top”.
They look beautiful, but a bit funny too-as you could have a trunk about eight to twelve inches around that’s only 6 inches high.
Trunk of Travelers Palm Just Starting
Quick info:
Scientific name: Ravenala madagascariensis
- 25-35 ft tall, up to 20 ft wide, multi trunks unless suckers are trimmed out
- minimum temp 32°F, zones 10-11
- needs full sun and lots of space
- grows in any well drained soil with some organic matter added
- salt but not drought tolerant
Travelers Palm with a Double FanYou’ll have no trouble being able to tell a male from a female version of the travelers palm tree.
The males are a single tree with no flowers or pods growing out of the middle of the fan.
The flowers are shaped just like the bird-of-paradise flowers but are green in color.
The females have all that and sometimes end up growing a second or third complete fan from the same trunk.
The double fan picture shows the flowers too.
They will also get sucker plants just like the banana tree.
If you don't want multiple trees you will need to prune off the suckers as they emerge from the ground.
Landscape Groupings of Travelers Palms
The
travelers palm is a favorite for landscapers and those who appreciate the symmetrical
shape of these beautiful plants.
They make great arrangements in gardens, and
they are an excellent tree for blocking the view of your backyard. At least
until they get too tall.
When left alone and if they stay healthy they can grow just as tall as the coconut palm, and "fans" on them can be extremely large!
Group of Travelers PalmsMore Landscaping Ideas
- Small Palm Trees for Landscapes Small palm trees are the perfect addition to ensure your landscape has that tropical feel. Which one will you choose for your little slice of paradise?
- Large Palm Trees for Landscapes There are many majestic looking large palm trees you could use in your landscape. Some are perfect as a centerpiece display, or to line laneways
- Cold Hardy Palm Trees There are more varieties of cold hardy palm trees than you may think. There are kinds that can withstand below freezing temperatures and snow.
I'm Darla the creator of Palm Tree Passion.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit.
DarlaRecent Articles
-
Hearts of Palm Salad
This recipe sounds very yummy and looks great too. A salad to enjoy year round. Plus a few key questions on where hearts of palms come from and who harvests them.
-
Palm Tree Tattoo Ideas
Lots of palm tree tattoo ideas. If you are looking at adding a tropical looking tattoo you definitely can't have it without including at least one palm tree.
-
A Vacation in a Box -Palm Trees included
Ikea wants to let you have the feel of a vacation destination right from your own home. They've come up with a box filled with home decor, accessories (including faux palm trees) and even recipes from…
A NOTE on Buying Palm Tress: If you are looking to buy palm trees of any kind then I would highly recommend purchasing through the Real Palm Tree Store.
They are a huge nursery based in Florida with connections to many quality growers.
Whether you are ordering from inside the United States, Canada or another part of the world-- ordering one tree for your landscape or many for a commercial project-- I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.
Their customer service is second to none; all products are high quality and backed by a money back 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Make sure to visit
real palm trees, ask questions and read the reviews before buying anywhere
else.
Palm Tree Passion is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Palm Tree Passion (amazon.com).