The subject of last week’s column was palm trees and that will be the subject for this column as well. I recently learned that someone in Fountain Valley has a collection of 200 palm tree species around his home. I was astonished by this number.
In more than 40 years of plant watching in the Los Angeles area, I have barely encountered 20 different palm tree species. It is enlightening to realize how many options there are when it comes to plant choices, even if we have to make do with a paltry selection in our local nurseries. The new growth of flamethrower palm (Chambeyronia macrocarpa), for example, is a striking burgundy in color.
If only it were available, this palm could be more widely grown since it is hardy down to 25 degrees. To find lesser-known palms, you will need to conduct Internet searches for private vendors and specialty nurseries. Finally, the Palm Society of Southern California ( palmssc.
org ) offers opportunities for getting acquainted with palms up close thanks to the collections of palms grown by its members. By joining the society, you could also increase your own palm collection since members share seedlings of exotic palms with one another. Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) and king palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) are among the most popular palms that hold court in many of our gardens and landscapes.
The queen palm, however, is a maintenance headache owing to fronds that constantly droop and need to be removed at least twice a year to maintai.
