Palm Tree Help

[Lenadams Dorris]

In article <CFqxw...@unix.portal.com>, Clare Chu (cl...@shell.portal.com) writes:

> I'm considering planting a palm tree in our yard. However
>I don't know if the trees require trimming or not. The signs
>in the nursery don't say, but I've noticed that some of the
>trees on the freeway have this ugly beard hanging down. Some
>others seem to not have a beard, but I don't know if it's the
>result of someone climbing up there and trimming it or not.
>Could someone recommend a species of palm trees that grow
>high and narrow and doesn't require beard trimming? Is there
>a good reference on palm trees?
>

First off, since I assume you live in the San Jose, CA area, your
palm choices are pretty unlimited. Second, the palms with "beards"
are most likely California or Mexican Fan Palms, and the beard is
properly called a skirt and is characteristic. It can be trimmed.
Third, it's unfortunate you find the skirt unattractive, but, hey,
there you go. Fourth, you might want to try the Queen Palm (Syagrus
romanzoffianum) or one of the lesser dates like Phoenix reclinata.
Both will require SOME trimming to keep them skirtless, but less
than the Washingtonias. Fifth, the Sunset Western Garden Book is a
good basic reference for gardening in your area, including palms.
And sixth, if you can, you might want to go to the Strybing
Arboretum in GG Park in San Francisco to see various palms in
action. If I lived where you did, I'd probably plant either a
Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis), a Bermuda Palmetto (Sabal
bermudiana) or a Chilean Wine Palm (Jubaea chilensis.)

Good luck.
Len

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
lenadams wm dorris / lena...@mojave.win.net / ve...@well.sf.ca.us
lena...@nevada.edu / snail: 3813 el cederal las vegas,nevada 89102

[Clare Chu]

>> : I don't know if the trees require trimming or not. The signs

>> : in the nursery don't say, but I've noticed that some of the
>> : trees on the freeway have this ugly beard hanging down. Some

To answer my own question, in case anyone is interested. The
ones near the freeways are all Washingtonias and the retain their
leaves indefinitely, creating nesting sites for scorpions, rats
and other vermin. Yuckola!

I found a book called "Palms" by Desmond Muirhead that answered
all my questions. Now the only question is where to get a palm
of my choice, since the most common one out here are those
dreaded Washingtonias. I may have to grow one from seed.
>>
>-------
>There is an international palm society that is a good source for books on
>palms, but I cannot recall location. Another good source for palm books is
>Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami, 305-667-1651. Being in California,
>however, your local public libraries should have a good selection of books.
>

Thanks for the help.

Clare