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The Christmas palm, also known as the Manila palm, plays an important role in tropical landscapes because few other palm species are so well suited for small sites. This species is native to the Philippines but has been cultivated throughout the world’s tropics for many centuries. It grows fairly quickly to a height of about 6 feet, but very slowly thereafter, retaining its proportions for a long time. Eventually, Christmas palms can reach heights of up to 20, or even 25, feet, with trunks 5 to 6 inches thick and a canopy spread of about 5 to 8 feet. Although single stemmed, this species is often planted as multiples of 2 to 4 plants in a clump, which typically grow out from each other with gracefully curving trunks.Clusters of bright red fruits, each about 1.5 inches long, ripen in late fall to winter, giving this palm its common name of Christmas palm. This species is very well adapted to Florida’s nutrient-poor soils and seldom displays any nutritional deficiencies. Occasionally, boron (B) deficiency symptoms are observed. Christmas palms require little maintenance once established. These palms are self-cleaning, meaning that once an old leaf has died, it will drop off cleanly by itself. However, unless the attractive red fruits are desired, it may be advisable to cut off the flower stalks before they develop fruits, which will eventually fall to the ground and create a mess beneath the palm. Although Christmas palms are relatively disease free, one disease, lethal yellowing, has greatly reduced the popularity of this species. Like all palms, Christmas palms are susceptible to ganoderma butt rot, a fungal disease that causes an internal decay of the lower portion of the trunk. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st658