Palm tree reproduction: seeds

The date palm is a palm tree that is easily multiplied by seeds

Phoenix dactylifera

Palm trees are plants that, although it may seem impossible to believe, are herbs, or to be more exact: megaforbias. This word means 'giant grass', and it is so. These beauties have nothing in common with trees, so their methods of reproduction are somewhat different.

The one that is used the most - often because it is the only one that can be used - is through the sowing your seeds. But being almost the only one does not mean that it is simple. In some special cases we will see that they germinate quickly; although that will not always be what happens.

Are palm trees monoecious or dioecious?

Date Palm or Phoenix dactylifera, a palm with a pinnate leaf

Phoenix dactylifera

Palm trees are generally monoecious plants, that is, they have female and male individuals. Generally, the male ones are the ones that produce the pollen, which once transported by the wind, by insects, or by other pollinating agents, reach the female palm, which produce the seeds and are pollinated.

There are some that are dioecious, that is, there are male and female flowers in the same specimen. For example, well-known species such as Phoenix canariensis (Canarian palm tree) and the Phoenix dactylifera (date) fall within this group. In these cases, it is not necessary that you have more than one specimen to get seeds, because with just one you will get enough for several to germinate.

How to germinate palm tree seeds?

Image - Flickr / Jason Thien // Double germinated seed of Ptychosperma macarthuri

The best you can do to perform this method, is to sow the seeds of each of the palm trees a little after they have been collectedIn this way, they will be much cooler. If you cannot get them that way, or if you want to plant exotic species and you have to ask for them from a supplier, it is important that before placing the order you inform yourself well about whether that person is trustworthy or not, seeking opinions from potential buyers; In addition, it is also highly recommended to see if you have indicated that they are fresh (that is, if you have just collected them) or not.

The sooner they are collected and sown, the sooner they will germinate.

It is basic, but it is important to remember.

At first, seeds can remain fresh and viable for 1 to 6 monthsDepending on the species, some can last longer, and others less.

Things you are going to need

To make the sowing task easier and more comfortable, it is advisable to prepare everything that is going to be needed before proceeding:

  • Small glass or container
  • Seedbed: it can be a bag with hermetic closure, a flowerpot, tray, milk or yogurt containers ...
  • Substrate: advisable to use universal substrate (on sale here) mixed with 20-30% perlite
  • Heat source and thermometer
Seedling tray with seedlings
Related article:
What are they and how to choose the seedbeds?

Step by step

View of young palms from Livistona jenkinsiana

Image - Wikimedia / Aparajita Datta // Jenkinsian Livistone

First - Check its feasibility

What you must do to multiply your palm trees using the seeds is, place the seeds in a container with waterIn this way you will know which ones are viable and which ones are not (those that float you can discard those that are not viable, those that sink are the ones you will use in this process).

Second - Prepare the seedbed

Now that you know which ones will most likely germinate and which ones will not, it's time to prepare the seedbed. For it, if you are going to use pots or containers, wash them before with water and a little dishwasherThen remove all the foam and, if it does not have any holes in its base, make one or two small ones with a knife or scissors. If you are going to plant them in bags, don't poke any holes.

Then fill it with substrate and water.

Third - Sowing

The next step is sowing the seeds in the seedbed. It is very important that they remain a little buried, since otherwise it may be difficult for them to germinate. But be careful, you have to avoid having them too hidden: if they are about 0,5cm high, as long as one centimeter is buried, it will be enough.

To prevent infections, it is worth sprinkling copper or sulfur on top. In this way, the seeds will be protected from fungi.

Fourth - Place the seedbed near a heat source

Most palm trees They need a temperature of about 20 to 25ºC to be able to germinate. There are some that do it with 15-20ºC, but they are not the best known (for example, the Juania australis It is a kind of mountain that is harmed by very high temperatures).

For this reason, sowing takes place in spring and even in summer, since this is how the seedbed is placed outside, in semi-shade, and you do not have to do anything other than keep the substrate moist.

However, collectors prefer to use very special germinators. I myself know one who uses a reptile incubator, and it suits him well. Every seed you put in there germinates. They have a somewhat high price, but if you see that you are going to get a taste of planting palm trees, it is still worth getting one.

Fifth - Keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged

It is one of the most complicated things. Whether you use an electric germinator, incubator or if you put the seedbed outside and let the sun stimulate the germination of the seeds, you must be controlling the humidity of the earth since the normal thing is that it runs out of it in a short time.

So, every day take a look at it, and if you see that it is drying, water.

Sixth - Plant in individual pots

When they start to germinate, as soon as their roots have reached a length of about 2-3 cm (it can even be done earlier) it is time to plant the seedlings in individual pots. These pots are recommended to be taller than they are wide, as this way they will be able to develop better and more easily.

However, if they are Chamaedorea or Dypsis for example, will grow without problems in pots that are about as tall as they are wide.

The Areca triandra is a tropical palm tree

Image - Flickr / Jason Thien // areca triandra

How long do palm seeds take to germinate?

It depends a lot on when they were harvested and the growing conditions. But I will tell you that if they have been collected from the palm tree as soon as it has finished maturing and if it was sown immediately, it will germinate in a few days, maximum two weeks. Otherwise, it will take one to three months.

Have a good seeding 🙂.


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  1.   Walter Ballivian Paruma said

    If possible, if anyone has experience in the reproduction of the sao palm, I would greatly appreciate such information, by any method, be it by seed or other means. Thank you.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Walter.
      This palm tree reproduces well by seeds, which are caught when they have already begun to fall to the ground. The fleshy part is removed, cleaned well with water, and then placed in a glass of water for 24 hours. The next day, they are planted in a pot with porous substrate (70% black peat or mulch with 30% perlite), in an area where it gets direct sun, and finally it is watered.
      They will germinate after more or less two months, as long as the temperature remains above 20ºC.
      Greetings and thank you.

  2.   ELIZABETH GUTIERREZ said

    I have a roebeleni palm, how do I get its seeds? I wish I had more

  3.   ELIZABETH GUTIERREZ said

    In advance, thank you very much.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello, Elizabeth.
      The Phoenix roebellini are dioecious palms, that is, there are male feet and other female ones. But until they bloom it is impossible to know which is one and which is the other, so if you want to obtain seeds, I would recommend that you buy them online, or try your luck and acquire another specimen.
      A greeting.

      1.    ELIZABETH GUTIERREZ said

        Hello Monica.
        First of all, I want to thank you for answering me.
        And immediately tell you that I just went to where I have my palm tree, which has been in bloom for days, and I just saw some little brown things on the ground, which apparently are the seeds, I have taken several and I am going to put them in water .
        I will wait and inform you what is happening.
        It's my first time doing this, and I don't know how to do it, but with your instructions, I'll do my best, wish me luck!

        Greetings and see you soon.

        Elizabeth

        1.    Monica Sanchez said

          That's done: good, good luck 🙂. All the best!

  4.   Oscar said

    I got seeds of red palm and bottle palm… are they sown individually, that is, one seed per pot? How long do they take to germinate? Are they easily given?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Oscar.
      You can sow each one (seeds of the red palm on one side and those of the bottle palm on the other) in a transparent plastic bag with a hermetic seal previously filled with vermiculite moistened with water.

  5.   Celeste's said

    Good afternoon. I am very interested in germinating bottle palms. The seeds are almost a year old and are offered by a nursery, will they be viable to germinate? How does this species germinate? Thanks

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Celeste.
      No, I don't think they are viable anymore 🙁
      To sow them, you can place them in a plastic bag with a hermetic seal filled with vermiculite moistened with water. It is then placed near a heat source at about 25ºC.
      If they are viable they will germinate in 1-2 months.
      A greeting.