Ribbon Palms, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Ribbon palm is a tall, hardy fan palm with long, drooping leaf tips that give it a graceful weeping look, and it grows well in Southwest Florida in full sun. It reaches 30 to 50 feet over time, so it suits larger yards and entries. The leaf stems have sharp teeth. We deliver and plant field-grown ribbon palms 8 to 10 feet tall.
- Light:
- Full sun; tolerates part shade
- Water:
- Moderate; drought tolerant once established, grows faster with regular water
- Salt:
- Moderate
Ribbon Palm
Ask for a photo of the actual plant we would deliver.
Ribbon Palm sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Ribbon Palm | Field Grown 8'-10' |
Ribbon Palm in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 30 to 50 ft tall with a crown 10 to 15 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun; tolerates part shade
- Water
- Moderate; drought tolerant once established, grows faster with regular water
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Hardy to about 20°F, so cold is not a concern in SW Florida
- Growth rate
- Moderate; faster with regular water
- Florida native
- No, native to Queensland, Australia
- Botanical name
- Livistona decora (also sold as Livistona decipiens)
Where Ribbon Palm works in a SW Florida yard
Use ribbon palm as a tall focal specimen in a larger yard or at the end of a driveway, alone or in a group of three at staggered heights. The leaves arch and hang, so it needs open space overhead and at least 10 feet from the house, pool cage and power lines.
Bromeliads, bulbine and blue daze make easy, sun-tolerant plantings at its base.
- Tall weeping-leaf specimen
- Large-yard focal palm
- Entry and driveway accent
- Groups of three
How our crew plants it
Set the palm with the top of the root ball level with the soil and the trunk unburied, in a hole dug wide, not deep. A field-grown palm 8 to 10 feet tall is top-heavy, so a proper install braces the trunk for the first 6 to 12 months.
Water in well, since Lee and Collier let new plantings take extra water.
Care after planting
- Water regularly while it roots in and through the dry season, since ribbon palm grows fastest with regular water even though it tolerates drought once established.
- Feed with an 8-2-12 palm fertilizer with micronutrients before June 1 and again after September 30, because Lee County, Naples and Marco Island ban nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer from June 1 to September 30.
- Watch older fronds for potassium (yellow-orange flecking and dead tips), magnesium (yellow edges) and manganese (frizzled new fronds) deficiency, and treat with palm fertilizer rather than cutting green fronds.
- Trim only brown fronds, and wear heavy gloves, because the leaf stems have sharp teeth.
What to watch for
- The long leaf stems are armed with short, sharp teeth, so keep the palm away from paths, play areas and pool decks.
Ribbon Palm questions we hear
How tall does a ribbon palm get in Florida?+
It is a tall palm that reaches 30 to 50 feet over time, with a trunk up to about 10 inches thick and a crown 10 to 15 feet wide. It grows faster with regular water. The 8 to 10 foot palms we plant already have a strong presence, and they keep rising.
Is ribbon palm cold hardy for inland Lee and Collier?+
Yes. It tolerates temperatures down to about 20°F, so Lehigh Acres and Port Charlotte winters are rarely a problem. Cold tolerance is one of its strengths, which is why it is also grown farther north in Florida.
Does ribbon palm have thorns?+
Yes. The long leaf stems have short, sharp teeth along the edges, so wear heavy gloves and eye protection when pruning, and keep the palm away from walkways, pool decks and play areas.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Ribbon Palm
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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See it in 3D first
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.