Areca Palm Recovery After Hard Freeze: Patience and Copper Spray

Arecas Are Survivors

A 20-foot, 10-year-old areca palm with all fronds brown and brittle after a St. Petersburg freeze will likely push new growth within a month. Arecas are clumping and very cold-tolerant.

Care Now

• Wait for new spears from the center of each stem.
• Then prune dead fronds at the trunk.
• Spray crown with copper fungicide.
• Water normally.

Outcome

The clump will look rough for a season but recover fully. Arecas are among the most freeze-resilient landscape palms.