How to Tell if a Palm Tree is Healthy Before You Buy from a Nursery or Supplier

Buying a palm tree for your South Florida property does more than improve how it looks—it also adds value and curb appeal for years to come. But not every palm you see at a nursery is the same. There’s a big difference between a palm that just looks fine now and one that will actually thrive once planted.

At Santana & Plants Corp, we believe in radical transparency. We don’t just want to sell you a tree; we want you to have the knowledge to pick the best specimen possible. Whether you are buying from us or vetting another plant and palm tree nursery or supplier in South Florida, here is the ultimate checklist for telling if a palm tree is healthy before you sign the check.

Lidany Santana inspects the quality and measures a container-grown palm tree at Santana & Plants Corp.

1. The "Spear Leaf" Test: The Heart of the Palm

The most critical part of any palm tree is the apical meristem, commonly known as the "bud" or the "heart." Unlike oak or maple trees, palms have only one growing point. If the heart dies, the entire tree dies.

How to Inspect:

Find the "spear leaf," which is the youngest, unopened frond that points straight up from the center of the canopy.

• What to look for: The spear leaf should be firm, upright, and a vibrant green (or the right color for its species).

• Warning sign: If the spear leaf is brown, shriveled, or comes out easily with a gentle pull (called "spear pull"), the palm likely has internal rot. Avoid buying any palm with a damaged spear leaf.

2. Evaluate the Canopy (The Crown)

The canopy acts like the palm’s solar panel. It shows how the tree has been cared for over the past 6 to 12 months.

Look for Color Consistency:

It’s normal for the oldest fronds at the bottom to turn brown and die, but the middle and upper fronds should stay green.

• Yellowing (Chlorosis): If many fronds are turning yellow, the palm may lack nutrients like magnesium or potassium. This is common in Florida’s alkaline soils.

• Spotting: Small brown or black spots on the leaves may mean a fungal infection. Some fungi are only cosmetic, but others can be deadly.

The "Hurricane Cut" Warning:

Watch out for nurseries that trim palms into a "pencil" or "hurricane cut," leaving just a few fronds at the top. This makes transport easier but puts a lot of stress on the tree and removes important nutrients stored in older fronds. At Santana & Plants, we keep a full, healthy canopy so the tree has the energy to quickly grow strong roots.

Inspecting plants at a Miami, FL-based plant nursery, Santana & Plants Corp.

3. Inspect the Trunk for Structural Integrity

The trunk does more than support the tree. It moves water and nutrients from the roots up to the crown.

Check for Mechanical Damage:

Check for any gashes or holes in the trunk. Palms don’t have bark like other trees, so they can’t heal over wounds. Any hole, whether from equipment or climbing spikes, can let in pests and cause rot.

"Pencil Pointing":

Check the trunk’s diameter from bottom to top. It should be mostly even or taper slowly. If it suddenly gets much thinner near the top (called "pencil pointing"), the palm likely had drought or nutrient problems while growing. This weak spot can break during Miami’s hurricane season.

4. Root Health: Container vs. Field-Grown

The roots power the palm’s growth. How you check them depends on whether the palm is sold in a container or grown in the field.

For Container-Grown Palms:

Ask the nursery if you can see the roots. You don’t have to take the plant out of the pot—just look through the drainage holes.

• The Good: You should see healthy, white, or light-tan root tips.

• Warning sign: If the roots are mushy, black, and smell rotten, the palm has been overwatered. If the roots are tightly circling the pot (root-bound), the palm may struggle to grow well after planting.
  

For Field-Grown (Balled & Burlapped) Palms:

Because the roots are wrapped in burlap, you’ll need to use the "stability test."

• How to test: Gently push the trunk. The root ball should feel firm and heavy. If the trunk moves within the root ball, the roots aren’t holding the soil well, which can create air pockets and cause root death.

• The Santana Advantage: We dig our field-grown palms carefully to give them a large root ball that meets Florida Grades and Standards.

Balled and burlapped Canary Palms are ready for delivery

5. Identifying Pests and Pathogens

Miami is great for palms, but pests are common, too. Before buying, check the undersides of the fronds.

• Whitefly: Look for a white, waxy substance or "sooty mold" (a black film) on the leaves.

• Scale: These look like small, hard bumps on the fronds that can be scraped off with a fingernail.

• Palmetto Weevils: These are harder to spot, but look for holes at the base of the fronds or a canopy that is drooping when it shouldn’t be. Weevils are a serious threat to Canary Island Date Palms and Sabal Palms.

6. The "Sun Test": Is it Hardened Off?

Many nurseries grow palms under 50% or 70% shade cloth to keep the leaves looking dark green and attractive. If you plant a shade-grown palm in a sunny Miami yard, it can go into shock and burn in just a few days.

Ask the supplier, "Has this palm been hardened off for full sun?" At Santana & Plants Corp, our palms grow in the Florida sun. They are strong, used to the climate, and ready for your landscape as soon as they arrive.

7. The Grower vs. Broker Question

This is the most important question for both your budget and the health of your palm.

• Brokers: Many Miami nurseries buy palms from other states or regions, keep them on a hot asphalt lot for weeks, and then resell them. These palms are often stressed and overhandled.

• Growers (Santana & Plants Corp): We grow our own palms. When you buy from us, your palm comes straight from our fields to your property, without sitting on a truck or in a retail lot. This means less stress for the plant and the freshest stock for you.

Why Buy from Santana & Plants Corp?

We know you have many options in South Florida, but we work hard to be the most honest and reliable partner in the business.

FREE Delivery to Most of Florida

You shouldn’t have to worry about delivery. We offer FREE delivery to most of Florida on qualifying orders, using our own equipment to ensure your palm stays healthy from our nursery to your home or job site.

Expert Grading

We don’t just sell "trees"—we offer plants that meet the highest horticultural standards. Whether it’s privacy hedges like Clusia and Podocarpus or our Royal and Foxtail Palms, every plant gets a thorough health check before it leaves our nursery.

Field-Grown Excellence

Our field-grown palms are raised in the rich soil of Homestead and Miami. When you buy field-grown stock from us, you get a tree that is strong and well-adapted to the local environment.

Summary Checklist: Before You Buy

1. Spear Leaf: Is it green and firm? (Yes = Good)

2. Canopy: Is there new growth? Are the middle fronds green? (Yes = Good)

3. Trunk: Is it free of holes and "pencil pointing"? (Yes = Good)

4. Pests: Did you check the underside of the leaves? (Clean = Good)

5. Origin: Is this a direct grower? (Santana & Plants = Best Choice)
   

Ready to Upgrade Your Landscape?

Don’t risk your curb appeal. Buy with confidence from a team that puts plant health first. Check out our Plant List to see our current selection of healthy, sun-hardened palms and privacy hedges. Have questions? Our experts are happy to walk you through our fields and show you why our stock is the healthiest in Miami. Contact us today for your quote!