[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by KGL Landscaping

The handsome Sylvester palm has a robust central trunk that is sometimes swollen at the base and lined with diamond-shaped leaf scars. The diamond patterns deepen as the tree ages. A slow-growing palm, the Sylvester can eventually reach up to 20 feet in height. The crown is full and curves attractively in an almost spherical shape. The eye-catching blue-green to silvery-green foliage is composed of many fronds that rise directly from the trunk. Each frond can be up to 10 feet in length. The 18-inch long leaflets are arranged opposite one another, creating a smooth appearance, and the leaf stems are lined with thorns. The creamy white to pale yellow flowers appear on stalks up to three feet long below the crown and are followed by clusters of fruits that are purplish-black when ripe. The dates are one-inch long ovals and contain a single seed. They are edible and can be dried, juiced or made into jams and jellies.

A native of India, the Sylvester is a surprisingly hardy palm, easily withstanding occasional winter temperatures as low as 15 F. They grow beautifully in almost any well-drained soil, even sand. They are drought resistant but grow more quickly and exhibit better color when watered regularly. Try to keep the earth uniformly moist without overwatering. Sylvester palms love The Villages sunshine. Plant them where they will get plenty of direct light and have room to grow. Some pruning may be necessary to remove old fronds, which die away and ring the trunk like a skirt. Remember to wait until the fronds are completely brown and dead before removing them. This is a must, despite the undesirable look of the palm, because of the rich nutrients they hold to feed the central trunk. We hope the information we provided will be beneficial to both you as the homeowner with do it yourself tendencies as well as potential clients looking for in depth information as well as those who have a professional company caring for your palms. There are several types of "the Sylvester" that companies have introduced into the Villages over time. But there is only one we prefer, which is the true Silver Medjool Sylvester Palm. Its the most tried and true original variety with the hardiest standard. Thank you and we hope our tidbits of info will guide you in the right directions when selecting and/or caring for your Sylvester Palm.

Thanks for the great information. We planted a double Sylvester a few years ago. We love the trees. At the time of planting, we had the trunks diamond cut. My question is: do the trunks need to be diamond cut again, and how often, or just left "natural"?