Types of Palm Species:

Cocos Palm (Syagrus Romanzoffiana)

A resilant large palm tree which originates from Brazil. The Cocos palm is a quick growing, adaptable tree which propagates readily. When pruned it has a high aesthetic appeal, if not maintained it becomes messy with dead leaves, unopened bracts, dead bracts and seed bunches adhereing to the palm crown.

We recommend this palm tree be pruned regularly to remove seed bunches avoiding propagation and spread. When we prune this tree we also remove dead and aged leaves, leaf butts adhering to the trunk, unopened seed bracts (appear as green torpedos), dead seed bracts, opened flowers, seed bunches female and male and dead seed bunches.

If you are hoping to keep garden maintenance costs low, avoid planting Cocos Palms. If you have mature trees within your property, a cost effective long term plan may be the removal of the Cocos Palms and a replacement planting with a native palm species. Kentia, Bangalow, Alexandria and Livingstonia are native palm species which have much lower maintenance requirements when compared to the Cocos Palm.

Nuisance :

Here is a short list of the nuisance issues which may develop from the Cocos Palm:

1. Ripe fruit falls to the ground and causes trip hazards.

2. Ripe fruit falls onto a tin roof and keeps residents awake especially on      windy nights.

3. Dogs eat the fallen ripe fruit. The fruit is often rotten and produces          small amounts of ethanol and other chemicals. If pets eat enough of the     fruit they may suffer from consitpation or diarrohea (more often          diarrohea, but small dogs can get constipation) and may need admission      into a vet hospital, depending on severity of illness.

4. The rotten fruit attracts vermon and other insects. In summer rotten           fruit can attract hundreds of flies if not picked up regularly.

5. The need to remove a large amount of palm waste when leaves and            seed pods eventually fall to the ground.

6. The area beneath the palm is quantineed from use when the palm            has falling fruit. Injuries have been caused from the fruit falling at            height, when in fruit the area beneath the tree is off limits, unless            you wear a hard hat.

7. Attracts fruit bats - unfortunately the Cocos Palm seed is not part of          the fruit bats natural diet and eating the fruit can cause complications          to the bat. (causes constipation and dehydration, the tough leaves          and fruit damage the soft membranes of the bats wings).

8. Displacement of native palm species in bushland areas and National          Parks. This is an agressive, resiliant, invasive Palm Species.

This palm tree has been listed as an enivironmental weed in most Australian States with local councils following suit and listed it as an exempt species within their Tree Preservation Orders.