What is wrong with my Palmetto palm?

Romy Barefoot
by Romy Barefoot

I believe it’s a Palmetto palm ...the fronds/crown looks fine but the petioles and the fibrous threads have sluffed off completely leaving the trunk bare (I think I’m using the correct terms)

I need help. I don’t want to lose it-it’s about 17 years old!

The shedding started at the top and has worked its way all the way down

Trunk is completely bare now

  11 answers
  • J Brown J Brown on Feb 18, 2021

    Interesting. Are your grounds maintained by a service? Is it possible they noticed the bare spot and began removing them for a cleaner look?

    Palms are pretty hard to kill.

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Feb 18, 2021

    You need to have an arborist come and look at your palm.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Feb 18, 2021

    In the last picture am I seeing pieces of trunk debris on the ground? Is it possible someone is removing the bark?

    If you or the complex has a grounds service I would start with them and ask questions, also keep an eye out for dates of service.

    You could also look at other Palmetto Palms in the area and see if anything like this is happening to them.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Feb 18, 2021

    It looks to me they were removed intentionally. I would definitely check into this and see if someone has worked on this tree for you.

  • Agree with others, you need an arborist or speak with your garden service if you have one. Sometimes they "think" they know what they are doing when in reality they are clueless.

  • Romy Barefoot Romy Barefoot on Feb 18, 2021

    They are not being removed. They are falling on the ground and in the bushes beside them so they are taken out of the bushes and thrown away. There are other palms nearby that do not have this problem. I will call an arborist-sounds like that’s what it’s going to take to diagnose it. Thank you!

  • IT might have a fungus or disease that is causing the shedding.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Feb 18, 2021

    Hello. I am not familiar with tropicals. For the best local professional advice

    I would highly suggest contacting your cooperative extension. These offices are manned by volunteer master gardeners on site there waiting to answer the communities questions that know your local situation quite well.

    Master gardeners are required to volunteer back designated hours ( plus continuing education) each year to maintain MG certification -this community outreach and education is their goal. Sending them your photo with a description detail might yield a successful diagnosis.


    If your telephone conversation or email communication is insufficient to solve your issue sometimes a plant/insect sample could be provided to be shipped to your local university for examination and diagnosis at no cost to you. Hope this helps.

  • That is a fabulous tree, I wouldn't want to lose it either. I could call a pro. You can usually call your local nursery and they can steer you in the right direction...let you know if it's something common and how to treat it. I would start there.

  • Jeremy Hoffpauir Jeremy Hoffpauir on Feb 28, 2021

    You should call an arborist.

  • Deb K Deb K on Jun 14, 2021

    Hello Romy, looks like it is shedding to allow the trunk to grow, if the tree still looks good, I would not worry too much, most trees shed bard in the growing process