11 Fascinating Facts About Palm Trees

Palms 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.

The 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.

Palms 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.

Los 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.

Some 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.

It'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.

Palms 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.

Young 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.

Sago 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.

Trimming 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.

Not 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. Know what type of palm tree the fruit comes from before taking a bite.