Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii) — Sarasota Design & Care Guide
Compact, elegant, and holiday-ready. Also called Manila Palm, Christmas Palm shows a smooth gray trunk, graceful arching fronds, and cheerful red fruit clusters in winter—perfect for entries, pool cages, and large containers.
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Quick answer
Great choice for small Sarasota spaces and lanai containers. Grows 12–20 ft tall × 6–10 ft wide, evergreen, happiest in Sun–Part Sun with well-drained soil. Shows red fruit clusters around the holidays. Low salt tolerance—keep it back from direct coastal spray.
Why it thrives here (scale, function, style)
- Right-sized: Stays compact, fitting entries, courtyards, pool cages, and under lines where big palms don’t.
- Resort polish: Smooth, ringed trunk + tidy crown of fronds = year-round curb appeal.
- Seasonal pop: Winter red fruit clusters add festive color without flowers.
Design recipes: placement & pairings
- Front-entry statement (single or multi-trunk): Underplant with bromeliads, coontie, or flax lily; finish with shell mulch or river rock for a clean base.
- Lanai container: Use a large, well-drained pot; pair with trailing foxtail fern or variegated liriope for soft texture.
- Tropical trio: Stagger 3 palms, 6–8 ft apart along a drive or path; uplight for night drama.
- Pro tip: Site 6–8 ft from walls/walks; snip fruit clusters early if you want to avoid drop on pavers.
Care checklist (Sarasota)
- Light: Sun to Part Sun (more light = tighter canopy).
- Water: Keep evenly moist while establishing; then moderate. Avoid soggy spots—drainage is key.
- Soil: Sandy/loamy is ideal; amend heavy soils for drainage.
- Feeding: Palm-specific, slow-release fertilizer during warm months (per label).
- Pruning: Remove spent fruit and only fully brown fronds; no “hurricane cuts.”
- Cold snaps: Protect containers/young plants if temps dip to the mid-30s°F.
- Salt: Low tolerance—keep inland or well-sheltered from sea spray/salt pool splash.
Key specs at a glance: size, light, fruit, salt
- Common / Botanical: Christmas Palm • Adonidia merrillii (Manila Palm)
- Evergreen: Yes
- Mature size: 12–20 ft tall × 6–10 ft wide
- Light: Sun • Part Sun
- Season of interest: Spring • Summer • Fall • Winter (fruit show in winter)
- Bloom: No (ornamental red fruit clusters late fall–winter)
- Salt tolerance: Low
- Best uses: Small yards, containers, front entries, poolside (set back from salt), resort-style accents
Common questions (FAQ)
Single trunk or multi-trunk?
Both are available. Multi-trunk gives a lush, resort look; single feels sleek and modern.
Can it live in a container long-term?
Yes—use a large, heavy pot with drainage; refresh soil and upsize as needed.
Will the fruit stain?
Fallen fruit can stain pavers—either site away from paths or clip clusters before they drop.
How close to the beach can it go?
Keep inland or well-sheltered; Christmas Palm has low salt tolerance.
How much pruning?
Very little—remove only brown fronds and spent fruit. Green fronds feed the palm.
Read more about the different types of palms trees in Florida.
Get quick design help
Bring a photo of your entry or lanai and we’ll suggest placement, spacing, and companion plants on the spot.
Troy’s Tropics – Landscape Design
4151 Proctor Road, Sarasota, FL 34233
(941) 923-5390
Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
