Palm tree

Bismarck palm

Bismarckia nobilis

A heavy silver fan palm, 9–18 m tall, crown 3.7–4.9 m wide (UF/IFAS). Gardmi uses a 4.5 m crown. Hardy to about −1 °C, briefly −4 °C in sheltered places; for frost-free coastal climates.

Use in planner

Planning parameters

Use these values as a practical planning envelope: they describe the adult plant, not the young seedling.

Adult height: 9-18 m
Crown diameter: 4.5 m
Root zone: 4 m
Root type: Fibrous palm roots from the trunk base; they do not lift paving like tree roots
Recommended setback: Allow about 5 m for the mature crown; do not plant under eaves or power lines
Growth rate: Slow when young, then medium
Hardiness: USDA 10a (about −1 °C); survives −4 °C in sheltered spots
Crown density: Dense

Site requirements

These conditions decide whether the plant will establish well after planting.

Light: Full sun
Watering: Drought tolerant once established
Soil type: Well-drained soil
Drainage: Needs free drainage; avoid standing water
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to alkaline

Root system and placement

Plan a root zone of about 4 m diameter

Garden role and season

These fields help choose the plant by composition, privacy, flowering and year-round value.

Form: Single-trunk fan palm with a massive rounded crown
Foliage: Silvery blue-grey stiff fan leaves up to 1.2 m across
Season: Year-round
Bloom: Inconspicuous flowers on separate male and female plants
Fruit: Brown drupes on female plants; not edible
Garden use: Striking specimen for dry, modern and tropical gardens

Care and risks

This is the practical part for future maintenance and safe placement on the plot.

Maintenance: Water regularly for the first two years; potassium and magnesium fertilizer for palms
Pruning: Remove only fully dead leaves; never cut green ones
Risks: Cold wet winters damage the crown; a large specimen is hard to transplant