17/01/2025
🌴 Inspired by a conversation with , we have recently discussed the possibility of using palms as support trees in future agroforestry rows at OrtoForesta. This might sound unusual, but upon reflection, it’s not as crazy an idea as you might think.
In temperate agroforestry, palms can offer significant functional benefits as support plants:
🌥 Their tall, slender growth provides filtered light, which is ideal for shade-tolerant or developing understory species. This helps moderate temperature extremes and reduce heat stress on crops.
🌿 Palm fronds decompose quickly, adding organic matter to the soil and supporting microbial health. Their root systems also improve soil structure and water infiltration, preventing erosion.
💨 The flexible trunks of palms make them effective windbreaks, reducing damage to more sensitive plants in the system.
🍽 Hardy temperate palms can provide edible fruits (some, such as Butia, even palatable), biomass, or even aesthetic value for diversified income streams.
The species we are considering need to satisfy several criteria:
🌴 Growth speed
🌿 Prolific biomass producers
❄ Hardiness to -5C, because heavy frosts are not uncommon in our area
💧 Suitability to high humidity both in summer and winter
So we came up with a few species that might suit our needs:
🌴 Butia capitata
🌴 Phoenix canariensis
🌴 Trachycarpus fortunei
🌴 Washingtonia filifera
Do you have any suggestions? What is your experience with palms as support plants?
First photo is by Prof. Jem Bendell
