Tree Description:
A large palm tree, to 60 feet tall, with a cylindrical trunk up to 3 feet in diameter and a round crown to 15 feet in diameter.
Range/Site Description:
Native to the deserts of California, it is widely planted in southern and coastal Texas. It prefers very well-drained, sandy sites but tolerates a wide range of soil textures.
Leaf:
Large fronds 4 to 6 feet long, grayish-green, with a toothed leaf stem.
Flower:
Yellow to whitish spikes 12" long, extending above the foliage in spring.
Fruit:
Black, fleshy, berry-like, about 0.33" in diameter,
Bark:
Old frond eventually fall away to reveal the gray-brown, fibrous and tough outer bark.
Wood:
Sold in nurseries as a landscape palm.
Similar Species:
Mexican fanpalm (Washingtonia robusta) has slender, tapering trunk; Texas sabal palm (Sabal mexicana) has fronds with smooth stem.
Interesting Facts:
