Roystonea regia O.F.Cook

An single stemmed, evergreen palm. It grows to 30 m high and spreads 5-10 m wide. The stem is erect and smooth. It is white. It is stout and unbranched. The trunk is usually thickened near the base and in the middle before thinning towards the top. The trunk can be 0.5-0.6 m across. It has ring like markings. The leaves are divided along the stalk. The leaves are 6 m long and the leaflets are long and narrow. They are arranged in several ranks. The base sheaths the trunk below the crown. The flowers are small and white and cup-shaped. They are clustered in spikes which hang downwards. These stalks can be 1 m long. These come from just below the crown shaft. The flowers occur in 3-4 clusters with 2 boat shaped spathes. The male cluster is longer than the female. The fruit are round berries which are deep purple in colour.

It suits tropical and subtropical conditions. It does best with warmth and humidity. It does best with rich, moist soil. The soil needs to be well drained. It needs a protected, sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost. They need temperatures above 15°C. In Cuba it grows on fertile soils up to 1000 m altitude. It suits plant hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

The central bud or cabbage is eaten. The fruit fall when ripe and are edible.

Plants are grown from seed. Seed should be sown at 27°C.