Royal palm with smooth pale grey trunk, green crownshaft and arching feather fronds in a gravel yard

Royal Palm

Roystonea regia
Categories:
Palms  ·  
Palms
Light
Full sun
Water
High water needs in Phoenix; irrigate deeply and regularly during hot weather, maintaining evenly moist but not waterlogged soil. Reduce watering in cooler months.
Size
50-70 ft tall × 15-25 ft wide
Habit
Palm – single-trunk
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
Majestic tropical palm with a smooth, pale-gray trunk, prominent green crownshaft, and large, arching featherlike fronds. Marginal and generally unreliable outdoors in Phoenix Zone 9b because of frost, extreme dry heat, and low humidity.
Bloom Time
Spring to summer
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Architectural Form, Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Birds
Growth Rate
Slow to moderate
Growth Habit
Palm – single-trunk
Mature Size
50-70 ft tall × 15-25 ft wide
Flower Color
Cream-white
Foliage Color
Green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Specimen / Accent, Tropical Garden
Garden Style
Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife, Tropical
Soil
Amended / Rich, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Bird of paradise, Canna, Irrigated settings, Split-leaf philodendron, Tropical hibiscus
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun when established; young plants benefit from afternoon shade in Phoenix and gradual acclimation to intense desert sunlight.

Water: High water needs in Phoenix; irrigate deeply and regularly during hot weather, maintaining evenly moist but not waterlogged soil. Reduce watering in cooler months.

Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Alkaline Phoenix soils can contribute to micronutrient deficiencies; avoid saline soil and poor drainage.

Mature size: Typically 50–80 feet tall and 20–25 feet wide in favorable climates; may exceed 100 feet. Phoenix growth and survival are limited by climate.

Bloom: Mature palms produce branched flower clusters, typically during warmer months; flowering may be inconsistent under Phoenix conditions.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth, ample water, and nutrients; slower and less dependable in Phoenix.