Question
QUESTION: Hi Nick,

I planted a royal palm in my southwest Florida lawn.  It sits in the middle of my lawn, between my house and my neighbor.  It is approximately 20 feet from the nearest building.

My question: How big is a Cuban Royal Palm root system, and are there guidelines for planting distance from structures?
Thank you.
Keith

ANSWER: Hi Keith, No worries here, their root systems are very compact and do not stretch out very far; 20 feet is plenty of room for it to develop; you will see Royals along streets in many developments in Fort Meyers, Naples, and they are right up abutting roads and within 10 feet of houses. Just take a tour sometime to one of your major deed restricted communities and you will see them placed by the County much closer then 20 feet to all kinds of structures. I have a Pineapple Palm 20 feet from my house, and it is 40 feet tall with every bit the roots system that your Royal will develop, with no problems at all. The only consideration would be a septic system. Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again Nick,

I really appreciate your prompt and understandable answer.

My follow-up question relates to your expertise on this specific topic.  Could you please give a bit of background on how you are able to state that Royal Palm root systems are very compact. (the reason for my request is because in a different forum an apparently un-knowledgeable person  posted a comment that the root systems must be "gianormus" because the the trees withstand hurricanes.)

Bottom Line - Can Royal Palm root systems crack building structures at a distance of 20 feet?

Thank you so much for your continued help with this.

Keith

Answer
Keith, The Royal Palm has a "deep" root system , hence its ability to withstand hurricane force winds, but if a City in Florida would put a row of Royals (ie. Punta Gorda) within 20 feet of structures along that same road, I am inclined to feel safe within 20 feet in your case, else these people would be screaming at the County/City for putting them there; along Marion Ave in Punta Gorda there are newly planted Royals lining the entrance to Punta Gorda Isles. I can attest to this and I can attest to them having very deep roots (hence my mention of septic systems), but am I going to go to the wall on whether or not your roots may reach 20 feet out, no, but I would put one in my yard within 20 feet and I also have seen numerous Royals right smack up against peoples houses! My advice (to rest this case..)is to take a ride around and do a survey, see how many you see near structures......then hand down a decision whether you want to do this or not.....:))Nick