Palm and Tree Library
Palm Diseases
The palm diseases we see across Southwest Florida, from the ones that kill a palm to the ones that only mark its leaves. Pick one to see what it looks like and what we do about it.
Ranked from the killers to the mostly cosmetic. A photo is a reason to call us, not a diagnosis: four of these have no way back once established, so we confirm before anyone acts: in a lab, or by the conk for Ganoderma.
- Killer
- Kills the palm or tree. No cure once it takes hold.
- Serious
- Can kill or badly disfigure if left alone. Needs action.
- Manageable
- Kept in check when it is caught early and treated.
- Mostly cosmetic
- Looks bad, rarely harms. At scale we do not typically treat it.
Every page is ranked on this scale. Anything Manageable or Mostly cosmetic can become Serious, but caught early, it stays manageable. Mostly cosmetic problems are ones we do not typically treat on palms and trees at scale. On a home, or a palm or tree that matters most to the property, treating one can be a level of care you choose.
Killer6 pages
KillerA fatal fungal wilt that plugs a palm's water-conducting tissue.
Signs and what we doKillerA wood-decay fungus that rots the base of the trunk and the roots.
Signs and what we do
KillerA bacterial disease spread by a planthopper that kills palms within months of the first symptoms. The active palm killer across Southwest Florida.
Signs and what we do
KillerA fatal palm disease and the close cousin of lethal bronzing.
Signs and what we do
KillerA fungus that enters through fresh trunk wounds and rots the trunk from one side inward.
Signs and what we doA water mold that rots the bud, the one growing point a palm has.
Signs and what we doManageable1 page
Mostly cosmetic1 page
Where to next
Keep working through it.
FAQ
Questions boards and managers ask
Which palm diseases kill palms in Southwest Florida?
Lethal bronzing, Fusarium wilt, Ganoderma butt rot and Thielaviopsis trunk rot have no way back once established. Bud rot kills when it reaches the bud. Lethal yellowing is fatal too, but rare here today.
Can you tell which disease it is from a photo?
A photo tells us whether to come out. Several of the killers look like each other and like nutrient problems, so the serious calls are confirmed in a lab before treatment or removal.
Are the leaf spot diseases a problem?
Mostly cosmetic on a mature palm. They are driven by water on the canopy, so the fix is usually irrigation and nutrition, not fungicide.
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