Texas Palm Decline Can be Prevented


To protect your palms, contact Russ by e-mail or call 813-727-4758.

What is Texas Palm Decline?

Texas Palm Decline (TPD), also know as Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD) and known in Texas as Date Palm Lethal Decline disease, is a major palm disease that's been moving up from South Florida. It's now in Hillsborough County. ( details) (map). The name of the disease comes from it first being identified in Texas in the 1970's.

Also known as Phytoplasma Disease, it's a fatal but preventable disease that's very similar to another disease, Lethal Yellowing. These diseases cause wilting in palms by preventing the flow of water and nutrients within the palm. Lethal Yellowing has caused the death of hundreds of thousands of palms in South Florida.

Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is disease is very new. The researchers at the University of Florida don't yet know exactly how the disease is transmitted, although they believe it's through an insect. They've put together this summary of new diseases of palms in Florida, and Texas Palm Decline is at the top of the list.

Why is Texas Palm Decline a serious problem?

The problem is that some palms affected by TPPD can cost $5,000 - $10,000 each to replace. The losses may include hundreds of thousands, or even millions of palms across the state. The Sabal Palm, our state tree is known to be affected as is the Canary Island Date Palm.

What can be done to save the palms?

Prevention of both Texas Phoenix Palm Decline and Lethal Yellowing is both easy and affordable. Research at the University of Florida has found that regular injections of an antibiotic is extremely effective in preventing LY and Texas Palm Decline and occasionally successful in achieving remission of a palm already infected. The best news is that prevention is affordable.

To protect your palms from TPPD, contact Russ by e-mail or call 813-727-4758.

List of palm species affected by
Texas Phoenix Palm Decline

Common Name Scientific Name
The links below lead to photos/ descriptions from Wikipedia
Canary Island Date Palm Phoenix canariensis
Medjool Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera
Senegal Date Palm Phoenix reclinata
Sylvester Date Palm Phoenix sylvestris
Queen Palm Syagrus romanzoffiana
Washingtonia or
Mexican Fan Palm		 Washingtonia robusta
Sabal Palm, Cabbage Palm, Palmetto Sabal palmetto

Breaking News on Texas Palm Decline

Dec 19, 2008 - Due to the threat of  Texas Phoenix Palm Decline, known in Texas as Date Palm Lethal Decline disease Texas recently imposed an emergency quarantine against certain palm species being imported from Florida. Read the Texas press release here. The regulated palms include: Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera; Canary Island date palm, Phoenix canariensis; silver or sylvester date palm, Phoenix sylvestris; queen palm, Syagrus romanzoffiana; and cabbage palm or sabal palm, Sabal palmetto.

Local Protection from Texas Palm Decline is Available

Pest control services is offered in: Apollo Beach, Bloomingdale, Brandon, Carrollwood, Citrus Park, Drew Park, Egypt Lake, Forest Hills, Gibsonton, Land o' Lakes, Lutz, New Tampa, North Tampa, Plant City, Riverview, Ruskin, Seminole Heights, South Tampa, Sulphur Springs, Seffner, Tampa, Tampa Heights, Temple Terrace, Thonotosassa, Town and Country, USF area, Valrico, Wellswood, Wesley Chapel, Ybor City …and all areas in between.

To protect your palms from TPPD, contact Russ by e-mail or call 813-727-4758.