Texas Palm Decline (TPD), also known as Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD), was first discovered in the southern coastal region of Texas in the late 1970’s. This palm decline disease is relatively new in Florida, first discovered in 2006.

Texas Palm Decline disease was discovered in Florida in 2006. It’s similar to Lethal Yellowing, a disease that’s been killing palms by the hundreds of thousands in Florida since the 1950’s. Researchers suspect an insect of spreading the disease from palm to palm by first feeding on an infected palm.

Texas Palm Decline appears to be moving in to the west central portion of Florida, ready to infect thousands of palms in the Phoenix family, including wild date palms, Canary Island Date palms, and edible date palms. These palms can be quite expensive - $5,000 to $10,000 each.

Another palm affected is the less expensive but quite popular Queen palm. In addition the palm decline disease is suspected of jumping to a new species, the Sabal palm, which is also the state tree of Florida. Texas Phoenix Palm Disease has been recently confirmed in Pinellas, Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties in the west central region of Florida. This disease is expected to spread because of the number of palms bought, sold and shipped around Florida.

Signs of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline begin with the browning of the lower fronds, the death of the spear (the newest unfolded frond), and continue to the dropping of immature fruit, and the premature death of more fronds, flowers and fruit.

Many of these Texas Phoenix Palm Decline symptoms may also be caused by herbicide or insect damage, lightning damage, overpruning or nutritional deficiencies. It takes a good deal of expertise to sort these palm decline symptoms out.

If you have concerns about Texas Palm Decline, and whether your palms are infected, the next step is to call a certified arborist or a palm expert. They will sort out the symptoms and prepare samples for a lab to test. Lab confirmation of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline in the palm will require the removal of the palm. It is in the best interest of the community to protect the remaining palms fro further spread of the palm decline disease.

If Texas Palm Decline symptoms exist on a palm, but the spear leaf has not died, the palm may be saved by injection of the antibiotic oxytetracycline Hcl. Treatment of palm decline must continue every 4 months for the life of the palm. This antibiotic may also be used as a preventive treatment on healthy palms when Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is known to occur in the area. The 4-month schedule applies.

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