Gardening with Tropical Fruit

The Peach Palm

By Gene Joyner, Extension Agent
Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service

There are many types of palm trees which produce edible fruits and the coconut and date palm are common examples. Another handsome palm, the peach palm (Guilielma gasipaes), is a slender usually spiny palm found over much of central and portions of South America.

Trees usually form clusters with thin trunks growing to a height of about 30 feet. The leathery leaves which can be 6 to 7 feet in length are dark green above and light green on the under sides and both the mid rib and the sheath of the leaves usually bear large spines which also are found up and down the trunks. In recent years spineless varieties have been developed, but those are difficult to find still in the nursery industry.

The edible portion of the palm is the clusters of large two-inch red or yellow fruit borne in clusters weighing up to 25 pounds or more. Individual fruits are ovoid in shape and occasionally some varieties are found that have seedless fruit or contain only very small seeds.

They are a common commodity in many Latin American and island markets and are prepared for eating by boiling or roasting. They have a sweet nutty flavor and the pulp can also be ground into flour or made into cakes and fermented to prepare a beverage.

Propagation is by seed or suckers from the main clump and palms grow quickly often bearing within one to two years after planting. Palms grow over a wide range of soil conditions and seemingly have few problems as a landscape specimen.

Palms tolerate some salt spray, but shouldn’t be planted in high salt ocean front locations.
Once palms are several feet in height they withstand most winters with little or no damage.