This stately palm is the Caribbean Royal Palm, Roystonea oleracea. It belongs to the palm family, Arecaceae, and is native to parts of the Lesser Antilles and northern South America. It is one of the tallest and most imposing palms of the Caribbean landscape.

A mature tree may reach close to 100 feet in height. Its trunk is smooth, pale gray and remarkably straight, rising like a column before ending in a long, glossy green crownshaft. That crownshaft is formed by the tightly wrapped bases of the leaves.

Above it is a large crown of long, feather-like fronds. The leaves may extend 10 to 16 feet and often rise upward before arching outward, giving the crown a somewhat upright or flattened appearance.

The flowers are produced in large branching clusters beneath the crownshaft. At first, they are enclosed within a protective sheath. When that sheath opens, it reveals many small cream-colored flowers visited by insects.

After flowering, the palm produces large hanging clusters of small fruits. These begin green and mature to dark purple or blue-black. Birds and other animals feed on the fruit and help disperse the seeds.

Royal palms naturally shed their old leaves. An entire frond, including the heavy leaf base, may fall from high in the crown, so these palms need adequate space and should be placed carefully around paths, buildings and gathering areas.

The species name oleracea is derived from a Latin word associated with vegetables or edible plants. The tender growing tip, or palm heart, was historically eaten in some places, although removing it kills the palm because a single-trunked palm has only one growing point.

The Caribbean Royal Palm can be confused with the closely related Cuban Royal Palm, Roystonea regia. One useful distinction is that R. oleracea generally has a more uniformly cylindrical trunk and a more upright crown, while R. regia often develops a noticeable swelling in the trunk and a rounder, more drooping crown.

This is a palm whose effect comes from height, proportion and elegance. Its smooth trunk, brilliant crownshaft and enormous feathered leaves give it the formal appearance suggested by the name “Royal Palm.”

When several are planted in a row, they create a grand avenue, almost like living columns marking an entrance or ceremonial path.