Syagrus romanzoffiana - Queen Palm

Syagrus romanzoffiana, better known as the Queen Palm, is also called the Feathery Coconut Tree or the Romanzoff Coconut Tree, named after the person who discovered it in the humid subtropical regions of South America. With its tall, sturdy, and ringed trunk (stipe) and its large, feathery, and glossy fronds, it has a graceful and slender silhouette reminiscent of the coconut trees that line tropical coasts. It grows rapidly in fertile and moist soil, tolerates temperatures as low as -7°C (19.4 °F), and can withstand relatively poor soils. In summary, it needs water and warmth and thrives both on the Mediterranean coast and along the Bay of Biscay.

Syagrus romanzoffiana (synonyms Cocos romanzoffiana, Arecastrum romanzoffianum) belongs to the large family of Arecaceae. It is native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina, and has been introduced to other regions of the world with favorable climates such as the Mediterranean or South Atlantic coast.

Its trunk, called the stipe, is solitary, greyish, and marked with rings, which are remnants of old petioles. Under our climate, it can reach a height of 12m with a diameter of 40cm (15.7in) when planted in the ground, but it will remain much smaller when grown in a container. At the top of the stipe, a crown composed of large palmate leaves, called fronds, 6m (19ft 8in) wide develops. Each leaf, which can reach a length of 3m (9ft 10in), is slightly pendulous and carried by a long petiole. It is composed of numerous narrow, leathery, and rigid pinnules, glossy green in colour. Flowering occurs at the end of summer, in the form of branched inflorescences that emerge between the leaves, with a different appearance depending on whether it is a male or female specimen. Male inflorescences are shorter and somewhat resemble brooms, while female inflorescences are long, pendulous, and adorned with small white-cream flowers. These flowers are followed by inedible but decorative fruits, ovoid and yellow, measuring 2 to 3cm (0.8 to 1.2in) in diameter.

The Queen Palm deserves a prominent place in a short grass meadow, but it also forms elegant rows in mild climates, including coastal areas. It requires space to fully express its beauty and grows quickly if it has an adequate supply of water and nutrients. It also tolerates container cultivation and makes a superb indoor plant for large, well-lit entrances, verandas, and temperate greenhouses. Widely cultivated on the French Riviera, it is gaining popularity among landscape professionals as well as amateur gardeners who appreciate exotic yet hardy plants, especially along the Atlantic coast of our country where it should thrive. It can sometimes be challenging to find suitable companions for it due to its strong personality. Reserve a corner by the pool and plant small evergreen shrubs like sage, Teucrium, and simple, flowering varieties at its base. Phormium, with its graphic, sleek, and colourful appearance, precise and geometric agaves, the almost metallic Astelia chathamica, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' turning orange in autumn, and the delicate and violet Verbena bonariensis will accompany it in a border that is both exotic and easy to maintain.