Are golden cane palms hardy? | How to keep them healthy

Golden cane palms are a hardy plant that will grow in full sun to full shade. They will grow in a variety of soil types and can survive periods without water. Golden cane palms can tolerate cooler weather and will bounce back quickly from frost if they are cared for.

This article will explore how to take care of a golden cane palm and what conditions they can tolerate in your yard.

Growing the hardy golden cane palm – Easy Tips

The golden cane palm is tolerant of a range of conditions from low rainfall to shade. Here we will explore the conditions that your golden cane palm will survive and thrive in at home.

Light

Golden cane palm is a beautiful tropical palm that will tolerate both full sun, part shade and full shade. Palms like these have grown hardy over many years as they came from a rainforest area in Madagascar.

Golden cane palms will do best in a tropical climate but can tolerate cooler, temperate climates as well. If you live in a very hot, dry area, planting them in part shade will protect them from the scorching sun and sunburn.

For tropical or sub-tropical areas golden cane palms will thrive in any light levels from full sun to full shade. The extra humidity in the air will keep them happy and growing fast.

Soil types

While the ideal soil type for golden cane palms is well draining, compost rich soil they are hardy and will tolerate a range of conditions. Sandy soils will still work to grow a healthy golden cane palm.

Clay soils will pose more of a challenge due to the fact that they just don’t drain as well. The simple solution to this is to add a bag of compost or some homemade if you have it. A few shovels of compost can be the difference between a thriving or suffering palm.

Mix in the compost, aged cow manure and worm castings if you have them to build up the soil before planting. This will give your palm the best chance of thriving and avoid water sitting around the roots and causing rot.

Watering

Golden cane palms are drought tolerant once established. This hardy palm will tolerate the random rainfall that would have occurred in its native Madagascar.

For golden cane palms planted at home, they will adjust to your watering schedule but for the best results give them regular water with time to dry out between.

Golden cane palms do not enjoy having wet roots so allow the plant to dry out between watering. Too much water can cause the leaves to yellow as the nutrients are washed away from the roots.

Feeding

Golden cane palms are a hardy, low maintenance palm when it comes to feeding or fertilizing. They will be happy with a once a year feed with a general all-purpose fertilizer in Spring.  With well prepared soil and a nice layer of mulch, this is all you will need to keep them happy.

For me I like to give them 2-3 feeds of pelleted chicken manure over spring and early summer. This will just give them an extra nutrient boost as this fertilizer is mild and also feeds the worms and soil bacteria.

Frosts

Golden cane palms will survive the odd frost if you get unseasonably cold weather. The benefit of their many stems and bushy leaf coverage is that a small amount of frost will do minimal damage to the plant.

Frost may cause browning of the leaves, but the plant can quickly recover and replace those leaves. If you expect another frost, leave the damaged leaves on the plant until it has passed. These already damaged leaves will protect the healthy leaves from the next frost.

Pest attack

Golden cane palms are resistant to pest attack and can recover from small infestations if they are caught early. There are few pests that are attracted to the palm but mealy bugs, scale or spider mite can occasional affect your plant, particularly if they are indoors.

Neem oil is an easy way to get rid of mealy bugs and spider mite or even aphids if they appear. Scale can be removed with a strong hose spray and horticultural soaps.

Multiple stems

One of the best things about the golden cane palm is the way it grows which help to make it hardy and easy to look after. Golden cane palms will send up multiple stems which means that any that get damaged can be pruned off and replaced with new ones.

Golden cane palms will send up new suckers when they have the space and light they need growing a healthy, bushy palm.

Keep golden cane palms away from paving or hard landscaping because they can grow a thick matted layer of roots which can slowly lift pavers over time.

Mulch

Golden cane palms will thrive if they are given a 2-3 inch layer of mulch over their root area. While they will tolerate dry periods, keeping the top layer of the soil moist for longer will help to protect their fine, feeder rotos. These sit close to the surface of the sol absorbing most of the water and nutrients for the plant.

Are golden cane palms hardy? | Summary

Golden cane palms are a hardy palm that will grow multiple stems. They are frost tolerant and any damaged leaves can be trimmed off and will quickly be replaced with new ones. These plants can survive in a range of light levels from full sun to full shade.

For those living in tropical or sub-tropical climates these palms are a great choice that will grow around 1 foot per year.   For those in temperate or cooler climates these palms work well indoors in a bright open area that gets the morning sunlight.

Place your golden cane palm in a pot that contrasts with the yellow stems for a beautiful modern look for your home. A dark gray pot looks fantastic against the bright yellow.

Happy Gardening