The palm tree's leaves are fan-shaped.
Palm trees (Palmae or Arecaceae) are iconic symbols of relaxed life on the beach and conjure up images of driving down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Palm trees are indigenous to tropical areas and are evergreen, single-trunk trees with fan or feather-shaped leaves. Larger cultivars are most hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10, while smaller ones grow well indoors. Some varieties grow coconuts and flowers.
Features
All palm trees have one stem with no branches. Unlike other trees, the stem grows to its full diameter before growing upwards. Palm trees grow (depending on the type) either a berry or drupe (coconut). The leaves are large and organized in terminal clusters divided into segments. Flowers bloom in the spring. There are tall palms (up to 50 feet), shrub-like varieties and many in between.
Types
There are more than 2,500 species in the Arecaceae family, many of which have continued to have economic importance in tropical regions around the world. One type, the Areca catechu, is cultivated in Asia for its seeds that locals chew like tobacco. The Cocos nucifera grows coconuts, which are harvested for food and cosmetic purposes. Some varieties, like the Phoenix loureiri, have leaves so sharp they can puncture the skin, while other varieties only grow in specific places: the Lodoicea maldavica only grows on the Seychelles Islands off the eastern coast of Africa.
Time Frame
Palm trees date back hundreds of millions years. The life span of palm trees ranges from decades to hundreds of years. The coconut-producing-palm tree (Cocos nucifera) matures at around 6 years and lives up to 70 years. Once this tree flowers in the spring, it takes a full year for its coconut to grow and ripen (although people eat the coconut throughout its many stages of maturity).
Care
Palm trees grow well in full sun. They need to be planted in rich, well-drained soil that must be fertilized often to replace nutrients lost to drainage. Palm trees in tropical areas require little watering due to heavy rainfall; however, if planted in a dryer climate, it is recommended to water the palm tree slowly over several hours. How often trees should be watered depends on the type of tree and climate.
History
Streets of Los Angeles are lined with thousands of signature date palm trees. The trees have been there for so long that it may seem that they are indigenous to the area; however, palm trees in Los Angeles and many other U.S. cities were actually brought by Spanish missionaries in 1769. Palms are now so popular in the southwest that many Las Vegas hotels and resorts are buying tree nurseries out of palms.
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