South Florida Palm Tree Hurricane Tolerance

[gatorcane]

What is the wind tolerance of some of the palm trees that grow in South Florida:

For example:

Cuban Royal Palm?
Coconut Palm?
Foxtail Palm?

Seems like Wilma was not strong enough to take out the Royal Palms here in Palm Beach County, Broward, and Miami-Dade. Would a CAT 3+ be able to? Since we like lining our roads with the majestic Royal Palms, it would be devastating to see them get taken.

[JonathanBelles]

When we had charley come through here and the other 5 or 6 hurricanes coe through here only one of the palm trees fell and it was already in bad shape before the storm. The palm tree seem to be built for hurricanes pretty well. Im just glad we have no coconut palms really close to our house.

[gatorcane]

When we had charley come through here and the other 5 or 6 hurricanes coe through here only one of the palm trees fell and it was already in bad shape before the storm. The palm tree seem to be built for hurricanes pretty well. Im just glad we have no coconut palms really close to our house.

If you are talking about St. Pete -- the Tampa area has still yet to see a full-blown hurricane -- its been a long time. all the Atlantic side hurricanes weakened before making it to the west coast. Also, Tampa does not support the kind of Palm trees in South Florida -- which I claim are more hurricane tolerant since South Florida gets hit more.

[Windtalker1]

I had a 40 foot high royal palm come down during Wilma. We must of had 1 hell of a strong Gut for that to happen.

[boca]

I had a 40 foot high royal palm come down during Wilma. We must of had 1 hell of a strong Gut for that to happen.

I wonder how deep rooted that royal palm was to have fallen like that because those trees are meant to be flexible. I had 150 ft ficus trees fall over like dominoes,but they aren't deep rooted they branch out instead of down.

[meteorologyman]

Speaking of trees, I know Florida has lost a lot of them during 2004, and even several more during fire season b/c of drought. So what so good about trees I ask? some trees may be parked right next to a home for it to crash down on during the storm (I'm one them that has tree next to house), however it could provide a shield (blockage) against the winds. Of course 1 tree may not make a difference but if your'e one of those that live near interstates that's a different story. b/c while your'e driving on interstate you notice tress run alnog the whole interstate, there are some homes behind those tree , and those trees can make difference to there homes, perhaps the city as well. So without the trees many homes will be defenseless

[Aquawind]

For the most part it's all about trimming them and thus leaving less for the wind to grab. They are native to the tropics for a reason. This page gives some good details..

http://www.floridagardener.com/monthly/ ... ttrees.htm

We have alot of Australian Pine in Florida that are not native and very large and dangerous. Unfortuantely I have a couple Queen Palms but they have done ok.

Keep them trimmed! I will trim my trees as part of the preparation process before each threat and certainly as the season is about to begin. Of course you really want them trimmed for "Prime Time".. August 15th- September 30.

Here is a study of trees and hurricanes.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR010

[Recurve]

Some Royal palms in Florida City area survived Andrew, same area where wind destroyed concrete-block buildings.
Coconut palms were stripped, some snapped, many survived.

Near the same area (Cutler Ridge), south Florida native slash pines (Pinus eliottii) took a beating. I'd estimate all of them lost most branches, up to 50 percent were snapped in two, maybe a third went down in a fairly dense area.

Soil conditions have everything to do with trees going over -- saturated loose / sandy soils make it much more likely trees will be uprooted rather than broken up.

Keys native trees get root into rock, grow no taller than 30-50 feet, and have extremely strong wood -- but still will lose branches. The trunks can easily regrow. Gumbo limbo can reroot and sprout multiple trees from a felled trunk.

In Wilma (120m from center?), Australian Pines went down.

[Patrick99]

Our native trees, if healthy, are well-equipped to survive hurricanes...they've had a lot of practice doing so over how many thousands of years. lol It's all the exotics like ficus and Australian pine that are most troublesome.

[waterdog]

We live in Delray Beach and during Wilma we lost a Queen Palm that was well rooted.

It snapped in half!

[gatorcane]

Does anybody have any wind speed figures on some of the palm trees here? I wouldn't be surprised if coconut palms can withstand CAT 3+ wind speeds.

[Patrick99]

You know what tree can really hold it down......the venerable banyan.

[MiamiensisWx]

Interestingly, no one has mentioned the native state "tree" (the Cabbage Palm or Sabal palmetto). The trunk is extremely durable and thrives in tough conditions and the species is one of the best wind tolerant trees in the Southeast and the state of Florida. Cabbage Palms were still standing on North Captiva Island and inland through southwest and central Florida after Charley's circulation (and eyewall) moved through the area. The palms were also standing in the Cutler Ridge area and near Biscayne Bay and in the Everglades after Andrew's eyewall (and eye) made landfall. They have adapted to barrier islands and vulnerable or exposed wind locations. In addition, the species is highly drought tolerant. I would highly recommend these palms for landscaping (including native or exotic water-conserving xeriscaping). The palm fared nicely through the effects of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 in Florida. The palms also have performed very nicely in effects from other storms and in other states.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

When we had charley come through here and the other 5 or 6 hurricanes coe through here only one of the palm trees fell and it was already in bad shape before the storm. The palm tree seem to be built for hurricanes pretty well. Im just glad we have no coconut palms really close to our house.

That’s' evolution for ya; in the distant past a majority of trees of any given species that couldn't survive hurricane force winds were no doubt destroyed by prehistoric storms before reaching a reproductive age, thus eliminating their DNA from the gene pool (via it not being passed on, at the same rate as that of trees that survived the onslaughts).

[Aquawind]

The link I posted above shows most if not all of the trees and thier hurricane tollerance..

[HURAKAN]

In FIU we have a street full of Cuban Palm Trees and during Wilma they only lost the branches but none of them fell.

I think they are pretty well air-dynamic.

[gatorcane]

Interestingly, no one has mentioned the native state "tree" (the Cabbage Palm or Sabal palmetto). The trunk is extremely durable and thrives in tough conditions and the species is one of the best wind tolerant trees in the Southeast and the state of Florida. Cabbage Palms were still standing on North Captiva Island and inland through southwest and central Florida after Charley's circulation (and eyewall) moved through the area. The palms were also standing in the Cutler Ridge area and near Biscayne Bay and in the Everglades after Andrew's eyewall (and eye) made landfall. They have adapted to barrier islands and vulnerable or exposed wind locations. In addition, the species is highly drought tolerant. I would highly recommend these palms for landscaping (including native or exotic water-conserving xeriscaping). The palm fared nicely through the effects of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 in Florida. The palms also have performed very nicely in effects from other storms and in other states.

Good point about the sabal palm. The problem is that it is not an aesthetically pleasing palm to look at compared to the towering Cuban Royal Palm and the majestic Coconut palms -- my two favorite palms.

[AJC3]

Out of all the trees I had at the beginning of 2004, I lost two of my three laurel oaks, my brazilian pepper (a good thing, actually) and one queen palm out of three during Frances. Also, after the season ended I noted that the one remaining laurel oak, my red maple, and my magnolia trees all had their root systems erupt from the combination of wind stress and wet ground. My three royals, though their fronds were thoroughly beat up, came out of it fine. Of course, my smaller palms - roebellinis, rhapis (lady palms), bottle palms and areca palms did just fine too.

[WeatherEmperor]

In FIU we have a street full of Cuban Palm Trees and during Wilma they only lost the branches but none of them fell.

I think they are pretty well air-dynamic.

Really?? Forgive me for sounding stupid but I have been at FIU for 4 years and never seen those trees. Maybe I have but just dont know what they look like. What part of campus are these trees located at Sandy?

<RICKY>

[HURAKAN]

In FIU we have a street full of Cuban Palm Trees and during Wilma they only lost the branches but none of them fell.

I think they are pretty well air-dynamic.

Really?? Forgive me for sounding stupid but I have been at FIU for 4 years and never seen those trees. Maybe I have but just dont know what they look like. What part of campus are these trees located at Sandy?

<RICKY>

When you enter through 112 SW 8 ST.