How Fast Do Golden Canes Grow?

Areca Palm

• The golden cane palm is more properly known as an areca palm (Dypsis lutescens). Along with "butterfly" palm, the name golden cane is primarily a marketing term for the plant. It is considered to be a slow grower which, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, denotes a tree that grows less than 13 inches annually. It normally achieves a full height of between 20 and 35 feet. Based on these specifications, it may require 20 years to reach full maturity.

Climate

• How fast golden canes grow depends partly on the climate in which it is planted. As with all palms, it thrives best in tropical or subtropical locations and the areca palm is considered hardy through U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 and 11, an area that encompasses the extreme southern tips of Florida and Texas. It enjoys areas where the average, annual low temperature is no less than 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Environment

• Normally experiencing a crown spread of between 10 and 20 feet, golden canes appreciate full sunshine or partial shade and grow best in well-drained soils that still offer an abundance of water. A lack of sunshine or excessively moist soil will impact how fast golden canes grow. It produces dark green or yellowish-green leaves -- fronds -- that grow to between 6 and 8 feet in length. The areca palm possesses a dense, clustering growth habit.

Propagation

• How fast a golden cane grows also depends on how it is propagated. Areca palms that are propagated from seed require between two and six months to germinate. To accelerate the growth process and bypass the slower seed-germination process, shoots may be taken from the base of the palm and used to start new trees. New golden cane palms should be planted during the summer rainy season to allow their root system to fully establish with ease.