Interesting And Fascinating Facts About Palm Trees

Written by Lisa Hallett Taylor and published on https://www.thespruce.com/

For tropical landscaping, nothing conjures up the idea of an island escape like a palm tree. If you live in an arid, Mediterranean climate and can find palms at your local garden center, it’s likely that you’re in a region suitable for growing palms.

Before deciding on a variety, however, you might want to learn more about the intriguing history of palm trees, as well as facts that are good to know or will help you decide whether you want to invest in a palm.

11 Fascinating Facts About Palm Trees

 The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

For tropical landscaping, nothing conjures up the idea of an island escape like a palm tree. If you live in an arid, Mediterranean climate and can find palms at your local garden center, it’s likely that you’re in a region suitable for growing palms.

Before deciding on a variety, however, you might want to learn more about the intriguing history of palm trees, as well as facts that are good to know or will help you decide whether you want to invest in a palm.

01of 11Palms Can Be Skyscrapers 

Some palms can reach heights of 70 feet or much more. The Quindio wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) is the tallest species and can grow 160 to 200 feet high. It is the national tree and emblem of Colombia and is now a protected species, which means it can’t be used for logging.Other tall palms include:

Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta), seen in the Los Angeles and Southern California area, can grow up to 98 feet tall.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), a fast grower, can reach up to 80 feet.

02of 11The Palm Is a Symbol of Life 

The Assyrians believed that the ultimate symbol of eternal life was a tree growing beside a stream. The tree they valued most was the palm.FEATURED VIDEOFor a low maintenance plant with over 1,000 species and color varieties, consider the Peperomia Plant. In this video, we explain basic care instructions for the beautiful plant, including helpful tips and tricks to keep it thriving. Known for their red, grey, and purple leaves with striking golden accents, this colorful plant should live in a pot with a good drainage hole. Provide orchid potting mix, with light, but thorough waterings. Place somewhere with indirect sun, and no worries- these plants are non-toxic to humans and pets.Volume 0% How to Grow and Care for a Peperomia Plant

03of 11Palms Are Biblical

On Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, Christians often carry palm fronds as part of a symbolic ritual that commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as foretold by the prophet Zechariah. According to the Bible, people cut branches from palm trees, laid them across Jesus’ path, and waved them in the air.

04of 11Los Angeles Loves Palm Trees 

Franciscan missionaries are credited with being the first to plant palm trees in California for ornamental purposes. By the turn of the 20th century, Southern California gardeners were hot for exotic palm trees and introduced them to the area.The 1932 World Olympics in Los Angeles is believed by some historians to be the reason for palms being planted along streets and pretty much every public park and gathering place in the city. This beautification project gave jobs to some 400 unemployed men during the Great Depression. Approximately 40,000 Mexican fan palm trees were planted along 150 miles of city streets. Since then, they’ve become an icon of the region, along with the Hollywood sign, beaches, etc.

05of 11Some Palms Can Last a Century…or More 

Depending on the species, some palms can live for more than a century. That means the palm you plant might outlive you. There is also recent evidence that, at the cellular level, palms may indeed be the oldest living trees because their cells are not replaced with new cells, as is the case with other trees.

06of 11It’s Good to Wash Your Palms 

Everyone knows that you water a tree at its base. Palms are no different, but shooting that hose up to its leaves also is beneficial, helping to knock off the dust and to dislodge insects such as scale, mites, and mealybugs that like to hide out in the long stems of some palms. Washing also provides much-needed humidity, since most palms are grown in dry regions.

07of 11Palms Grow in Containers 

Palms make great patio plants, as they grow they can be moved or replanted from a container to a more sunny location. Just make sure you have the right soil for a patio tree, along with a large enough container.

08of 11Young Palms Are Shade Lovers 

Younger palm trees prefer shade and most varieties will tolerate it when mature. Planting new palms under the canopy of other trees will protect their tender fronds.

09of 11Sago Palms Can Be Bonsai Trees 

The sago palm is a dwarf tree that is not a palm but a relative of conifers and Ginkgo trees. It looks amazingly palm-like and is a popular type of plant used for bonsai trees. However, it is poisonous and should not be accessible to pets and children.

10of 11Trimming Palms Can Be Deadly

Trimming palm fronds is part of what keeps tree-trimming companies busy throughout the year, but this can be dangerous or even fatal work. Deaths have occurred when tree cutters have been suffocated by fronds that have slid down onto the worker and immobilized them. When this occurs, it’s almost impossible for a worker to remove the fronds, because his or her body is pinned against the trunk with hundreds of pounds of pressure from the fronds. The fronds can force a worker’s head and chin to his or her chest, resulting in suffocation.If the palms on your property need trimming, hire a company with experience in palm maintenance. When feasible, they should use bucket trucks or mobile cranes. When this equipment is not available or the location does not permit their use, there is a technique for trimming palms from above, so the trimmer won’t be caught beneath a palm tree’s skirt of fronds.

11of 11Not All Palms Have Edible Fruit

The fruits of many palms, such as coconuts and dates, are delicious. Others, such as sago, are poisonous to humans and animals.

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