Roystonea regia
Florida Royal Palm
Royal Palm
Cuban Royal Palm
Synonym(s): Roystonea elata
Florida native
Endangered Florida species
A rare palm tree in the wild due to commercial exploitation. It is native to the swamps and cypress sloughs of extreme South Florida. The range includes the Carribean, Mexico and parts of Central America.
Florida royal palms have a tall, cylindrical, light gray trunk with an upper section just below the leaves that is smooth and green. The leaves grow to over 15 feet long and are pinnately divided into 4 rows of linear leaflets.
The royal palm is the national tree of Cuba. In the past the Florida and Cuban populations have been considered separate species but are now widely thought to be the same.
Roystonea regia is a member of the Arecaceae - Palm family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Apr 17, 2020