Palm trees, belonging to the Arecaceae family of flowering plants, have a unique structure and are not classified as true trees. While California boasts only one native species, the California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera), many other palms are imported. The craze for palms reached its peak in California during the 1930s, initiated by Franciscan missionaries, which led to extensive landscaping efforts planting thousands of palms. Palms differ significantly from hardwood trees, such as their leaf structure, root development, and growth features, providing a rich diversity to California's landscape.
The palm tree isn't really a tree; they are Arecaceae, a family of flowering plants that can be climbers, shrubs, or stemless plants.
Palms differ from hardwood trees in that they have long narrow leaves, scattered vascular bundles, and lack secondary growth, making their structure unique.
Only one species, Washingtonia filifera, is native to California, while the majority of palm species seen today were imported during landscaping booms.
Originally planted by Franciscan missionaries, palms became a staple of California landscapes in the 1930s when over 25,000 were planted by the forestry division.
Collection
[
|
...
]