Cuban Royal Palm

Roystonea regia is one of the world's most recognizable palms. This famous and majestic palm is a sight to behold when it's mature and at full height, with its distinctive crownshaft, concrete-like trunk and beautiful pinnate leaves that create a feathery, plumose canopy.

You often see Royal palms lining wide boulevards and in public landscaping. Mature specimens arguably looking most impressive when planted in 'avenues'. Native to Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean (it's the national tree of Cuba), Royal palms are now truly international and are a landscaping staple around the world.

Growing to a height of 20-30 meters and sometimes more, this palm commands attention. Its clean, straight trunk is smooth and 'bootless' (a boot is the part of the palm frond that wraps around the trunk, often leaving a ring mark when it comes away) and a lovely pale grey colour, with a characteristic bulge below its vibrant green, elongated crownshaft.
 
Few palms are more impressive once mature, which happily doesn't take too long as Royals are relatively fast growing.