by Lisa Larsen

Created on: October 20, 2009

Palm trees are really more closely related to grasses and stemless plants, than they are to what we call trees. From their root balls, to their trunks, to their canopies, palms have very little resemblance to the traditional tree. That's what makes them so unique.

Over two thousand species of palms grow in the warm regions of the world. Within this vast collection, only one species originated in the United States. It is the Washington Palm, also known as the Petticoat Palm, from Florida. This robust palm attains great heights, sometimes as much as eighty feet. It gets the name of Petticoat from the way it self-prunes, the gigantic brown fronds draping beneath the green canopy en masse, much like a petticoat.

The Pindo Palm, of South America, can be identified by its unique blue-green fronds, each of which has a pronounced arched midrib. The tree grows to about twenty feet, with a thick rough trunk. Because of its stunning hue, Pindo Palms are often used as accent plants in landscape designs.

Another favorite palm in landscaping is the Queen. With a smooth, straight trunk, the Queen Palm can grow up to forty feet. Its fronds are long and feather-like, moving in the breeze with a gentle sweeping motion one can actually hear. Queens are often planted in groups of three, but can easily stand alone.

Many palms grow in clusters, forming multiple trunks, like the Paurotis. This palm grows slowly, but will reach heights of about twenty-five feet. The trunks are very thin, and the fronds are small and fan-shaped. Paurotis Palms are unique in that they produce suckers (baby palms) rapidly, so that there actually forms a lower canopy of fronds beneath the higher, more established palms. However, if this two-tiered effect is not desired, Paurotis Palms require much pruning and maintenance.

The Fishtail Palm is another clumping palm. New suckers constantly come up from the base, causing rapid outward growth. Its fronds are what give the palm its name, because they are less feather-like, and more leaf-like, resembling the shape of a fish tail. The Fishtail Palm is very sensitive and can only be grown in frost-free areas. It can grow to a height of twenty-five feet, yet dies a natural death in about ten years.

One of the more regal palms is the Canary Island Date Palm, native to the northwest coast of Africa. Its stout, barrel-shaped trunk is covered with old leafbases, and is perfect for growing ferns or flowers. By simply placing a young plant within the moist crevices of the Date Palm's trunk, it will take root and grow. The effects can be stunning! The Canary Date Palm grows to about forty feet, with excessively long, spiny fronds on top.

Palms are as varied as people, with unique characteristics and needs. Thankfully, many can be grown indoors, so that no matter the climate outside, a bit of the tropics can grace any home.

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