PALM 



PALM 



2443 



days and is one of the hardiest of palms (Fig. 2738). 

 The most popular palm for the masses, who look for 

 grace and beauty combined with cheapness, is Phoenix 

 canariensiz. More of these are planted at present 

 than of any other three species. In Los Angeles and 



2737. A sentinel palm. Washingtonia filif era, San Jacinto 

 Mountains, California. 



vicinity they may be counted by tens of thousands. 

 Like these two for hardiness is P. redinata; and all may 

 be seen growing north of San Francisco some 200 miles. 

 All the genus is hardy in southern California. Trachy- 

 carpus excelsus and Chamaerops humilis, the latter vary- 

 ing greatly in appearance, will grow as far north as any 

 palms and are popular everywhere. The former in 

 thirty years will grow to the height of 25 feet, while the 

 latter will make 8 to 10 feet of trunk in the same time. 

 Lii*istona australis and L. chinensis are both popular, 

 though not hardy outside the southern part of the state, 

 and the latter must be shaded from noonday sun. 

 Erythea armata and E. edulis (often known as braheas) 

 grow around San Francisco Bay luxuriantly. The 

 dwarf sections of Cocos, represented chiefly by the one 

 known in the trade as Cocos australis, is hardy even 

 farther north than the erytheas, and are by far the most 

 ornamental palms to be found in that section. Other 

 cocos in southern California are C. flexuosa, C. plumosa, 

 C.-coronata, C. Romanzoffiana, and many others. Any 

 cocos will grow here in protected places except C. Wed- 

 deUiana. Palms of the Cocos flexuosa-plumosa-Roman- 

 zoffia.no, type are the most graceful grown, and at present 

 very extensively planted in the southern citrous belt, 

 sometimes for street or sidewalk trees. It is also one 

 of the fastest growers, and will reach 20 feet in fifteen 

 years, with ordinary care. Archontophcenix Alex- 

 andras and A. Cunninghamii, the most elegant of our 

 palms after the Cocos plumosa type, are not quite so 

 hardy but will thrive from Santa Barbara southward, in 

 warm locations. The same exposures, with shade dur- 

 ing the hottest part of the day, will do for Hedyscepe 

 Canterbury ana and Howea Forsteriana and H. Bel- 

 moreana; also Rhopalostylis Baueri and R. sapida. The 



four species of sabals seem to thrive and seed well in 

 this section, though S. Palmetto and S. Blackburnianum 

 grow much faster than the others. RhapidophyUum 

 Hystrix is perfectly hardy, but on account of its dwarf 

 habit is not so extensively planted as its merits deserve. 

 Rhapis flabeUiformis and R. humilis need protection 

 from sun alone, though there is a rhapis growing for 

 ten years without protection from either sun or frost, 

 and in the coldest section of Los Angeles, but its color is 

 not all that could be desired. Chamaedoreas are planted 

 only where they can be protected from both frost and 

 sun, though they thrive better under such circum- 

 stances than they do under glass. In such situations 

 they are just the plant for the purpose, as they do not 

 grow away from the protecting tree as do sun- and light- 

 loving palms, but remain erect. Brahea dulcis may 

 occasionally be seen, but grows too slowly to be popu- 

 lar. One of the grandest and hardiest palms, one that 

 deserves for many reasons to be more extensively 

 planted, is Jubaea spectabilis. There are a few speci- 

 mens 20 feet in height with a bole 4 feet in diameter. 



List of California palms. (Wright.) 



The following list of palms for southern California 

 has been compiled from many years of observation by 

 J. Harrison Wright. While not entirely complete as 

 regards the newest and untried introductions, it covers 

 all the hardier species and it is made with special 

 reference to the effects of the severe frosts of January, 

 1913. 



I. HARDY PALMS. 



Withstand a minimum temperature of 18 to 20 F. 

 with little or no injury. 



Chamserops humilis (in a 



dozen varieties). 

 Cocoe Alphonsii. 

 Cocoe Bonnetii. 

 Cocoe campestris. 

 Cocoe erioepatha. 

 Cocoe flexuosa (of Hort.). 

 Cocoe Gaertneri. 

 Cocos Yatay. 

 Erythea armata. 

 Erythea edulis. 

 Jubzea spectabilis. 

 Phoenix canariensis. 

 Phoenix dactylifera. 



Phoenix reclinata. 

 Phoenix sylvestris. 

 Sabal Adanaonii. 

 Sabal Blackburniana. 

 Sabal mexicana. 

 Sabal Palmetto. 

 Sabal princeps. 

 Serenoa serrulata. 

 Trachycarpus excelsa. 

 Trachycarpus Martiana. 

 Washingtonia gracilis. 

 Washingtonia robusta. 

 Washingtonia Sonorae. 



2738. Date palms at Old Town, San Diego. 



