Palm trees in S. California (Los Angeles, San Diego: sick, winters, garden)

[j760]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

Oh, I disagree.... they are beautiful! Yes, I've seen them in Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, etc. That doesn't prevent them from being beautiful in Southern California imho. Of course this is an aesthetic judgment call, so everyone will have differing opinions.

Agreed, I really like them and think they fit in so well here in Southern California.

[wavehunter007]

Just a quick note from someone who is a bit of a “exotic gardener” back east….. I can tell you coconut palms will not survive (for long, of at all) in California…it’s too cold. On the USA mainland, only south Florida has Coconut palms… a true tropical species.

Most of the palms on the West Coast (CA to WA) and on the East Coast (FL to VA) are cold hardy palms, able to withstand brief periods of moderately cold temperatures. Places like southern California and South Carolina for example, have several different species of cold hardy palms. In fact, there are now a few cold hardy palms growing close to the coast in the Pacific Northwest in coastal Washington and Oregon and along the East Coast from coastal Virginia to coastal Connecticut.

The most common palm in California is the Washingtonia filifera. As you must have seen, SOCAL has 50 to 80 ft tall ones in some locations. If you are looking to plant one in your yard, these palms are very dependable in SOCAL.

[Mattias]

Someone still didn't answer my question :/

[timelesschild]

Then look it up on google or wikipedia. Honestly, that's what we would have to do to get you an answer...

[Mattias]

Ok.

A question: What City recieves most annual precipitation in LA County?

[j760]

Originally Posted by Mattias

Ok.

A question: What City recieves most annual precipitation in LA County?

Start a separate thread.

[CA central coast]

Originally Posted by Mattias

Someone still didn't answer my question :/

I think someone did. Some plams that can be grown in S. FL can't grow in CA, because it's TOO COLD.

[Mattias]

Originally Posted by CA central coast

I think someone did. Some plams that can be grown in S. FL can't grow in CA, because it's TOO COLD.

Winters are mild in S. California, they are aswell NOT cold.
Cold means freezing temperatures (32 F/ 0 C)

[happ]

Originally Posted by Mattias

Winters are mild in S. California, they are aswell NOT cold.
Cold means freezing temperatures (32 F/ 0 C)

Actually there's quite a variety of palms in California w/ more species being introduced all the time. Aside from the Washingtonia's\ Canary Island palm\ queen palm, etc [all don't require much water] other more exotic palms include king, fish-tail, foxtail, bottle, majesty, royal, veitchia, etc [do need lots of water] do quite well in SoCal.

Growing the tender subtropical palms requires taking care of the trees that businesses don't want to bother with [thus the fan\ CIP\ queen are widely planted]. Also there are areas that experience below freezing temps [low valleys\ canyon bottoms] with frost some winters. Coconut palms are impractical because night temps below 50F cause yellowing & freezing temps are deadly. There actually are some coconuts growing & looking OK but only in rare micro-climates.

Regarding rainfall: Southern California is basically a desert & winters can be quite dry. The mountains & coastal areas generally get between 10-20 inches a year.

[elousv]

The big ones are Queen Palms and the little one on the right is a Mexican Fan Palm.





The back ones are "Pygmy" Palms, more Queens on the hill and a small Sago on the right.