The Christmas Palm, also known as the Adonidia Merrillii or the Manila Palm, is a popular ornamental palm prized for its clean form, compact size, and bright red fruit that appears during the winter months. Native to the Philippines, it’s widely used in Florida and tropical landscapes as an accent palm due to its elegant appearance and relatively low maintenance needs.
Why Florida Customers Choose Us
Christmas Palm Breakdown
Appearance:
Features a smooth, slender gray trunk topped with a neat crown of arching, feathery green fronds.
During late fall and winter, it produces clusters of bright red fruits beneath the canopy, giving it the name “Christmas Palm.” The canopy is symmetrical and refined, making it ideal for formal landscapes.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Grows steadily without becoming invasive or difficult to manage.
Size:
Typically reaches 15–25 feet tall with a canopy spread of 8–12 feet, making it suitable for small yards and tight spaces.
Sunlight Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade.
Performs best and maintains its shape in full sun.
Water Needs:
Moderate.
Water regularly during establishment. Once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant but looks best with consistent watering during dry periods.
Soil Preferences:
Prefers well-draining sandy or loamy soil.
Adapts well to most soil types but does not tolerate standing water.
Maintenance:
Low.
Minimal pruning required. Remove dead fronds as needed. Fertilize periodically with palm fertilizer to prevent nutrient deficiencies
Landscape Use:
Ideal as a specimen palm, entryway accent, poolside planting, or in small clusters.
Frequently used in residential and commercial landscapes for its clean look and manageable size.
Climate Tolerance:
Hardy in USDA zones 10–11.
Tolerates heat and humidity well. Sensitive to frost and cold snaps.
The Christmas Palm is an excellent choice for adding a polished, tropical look to landscapes without overwhelming the space. Its compact size, attractive canopy, and seasonal red fruit make it one of the most popular palms for Florida homes and commercial properties.
Christmas Palm Planting Guide
Placement, sizing, and seasonal care for South Florida’s favorite compact accent palm.
Christmas palms shine as accents: flank an entry with a matched pair, or plant a double or triple cluster (trunks 2–3 ft apart in one bed) for the classic multi-trunk look. Keep single palms at least 4 ft from walls and pool cages so the 8–12 ft canopy has room. Their compact mature size makes them one of the few palms safe to plant near patios and small yards without future root or canopy problems.
Pick your size
💧 Watering a new Christmas palm
Water daily, soaking the root ball.
Every 2–3 days.
Twice a week in dry weather.
Moderately drought-tolerant, but looks best with weekly water in dry season.
🗓️ Care through the seasons
Remove only fully brown fronds — over-pruning green fronds weakens any palm. The bright red fruit clusters appear in late fall and winter (hence the name); they drop cleanly and can simply be raked. In a cold snap below the mid-30s°F, cover young palms overnight — Adonidia is frost-sensitive.
Florida Delivery Available
We have in-stock Christmas Palm ready to ship throughout Florida. Multiple sizes available with professional installation options. Order online or text/call 561-898-2028 for expert advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Plant & Care for Christmas Palm in Florida
Placement (Pool/Front Yard Friendly)
Full to partial sun is ideal. Give it room for mature canopy and plan for normal frond drop away from tight walkways.
Dig Wide, Not Deep
Hole 2–3x wider than the root ball and slightly shallow. Palms hate being planted too deep.
Set + Backfill Correctly
Set the palm so the root ball top is level to slightly above grade. Backfill with native soil, firm gently, and water in well.
Watering (First Few Weeks)
Deep water the root zone consistently—daily early on, then taper. Most transplant issues come from under-watering.
Fertilizer + Pruning
Remove only fully brown fronds. Use a quality slow-release palm fertilizer after it settles in (don’t overdo it day one).
Professional Installation Available: Not comfortable planting yourself? We offer expert installation services throughout Florida. Our team has 15+ years of experience ensuring your plants thrive. Call 561-898-2028 to add installation to your order.
What Florida Customers Say
No need to look any further than Dino's Palms :) Incredible website - very easy to use. After a few minutes with fantastic pricing, I purchased what was needed and sent the order. Received an immediate reply and a subsequent date for installation. The tree was as described - the installer was professional and thorough even cleaning where some dirt had fallen in the street. Will deal again Highly recommend / easy 5 Stars - thank you!!!
My experiences with Dinos have been wonderful. The communication about my orders & delivery was spot on, the deliveries guys quick, efficient and friendly - they even cleaned up fallen leaves from the driveway. But its the product that shined the most. Healthy, lush, vibrant. The same size posts as local nurseries - but the plants themselves were larger, fuller and more robust than anywhere we shopped. I cant say enough great things about their operations, their services and their products.
Highly recommend! Super communicative, did a great job installing and all-around fit our budget while still providing excellent quality, beautiful plants! We will be repeat customers!
