Palm with Mushroom-Like Growth at Base? It's Ganoderma Butt Rot—Fatal, Remove the Palm

A palm (likely queen) has a hard, white-underside/brown-top mushroom growth at the base. All fronds dead except center spear. Friend had same—palms died. How to kill the fungus?

No Cure for Ganoderma

Ganoderma zonatum is a lethal, incurable palm disease. The conk (mushroom) at the soil line confirms it.

Removal Protocol

• Cut palm at ground level.
• Do NOT plant another palm in that spot (soil remains infested).
• Nearby queen palms are at risk; royal palms less so.
• Vegetation killer on stump is pointless—fungus is inside roots.

Not Contagious by Proximity Alone

Spread is via soil/root contact, not airborne. The royal palm 7 ft away may survive.