WASHINGTONIA PALM
The Washingtonia palm is often not ideal for residential areas. It grows so tall and fast that it can overwhelm a typical yard. However, if the yard is large or your residence is on acreage, Washingtonias might be perfect. We planted 100 Washingtonia palms along fences and driveways at a local horse ranch, and the look was very appealing. We also have a customer who lives on a hill near Dade City who wanted his Washingtonias to be visible from all over town, so we planted 40 or 50 of them at 30 feet tall, knowing they would reach 80 feet. It was perfect. If you have a wide open space where you don’t have to look straight up to see the tree, then Washingtonias may be ideal.
Description: Reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), this towering palm is a striking feature when planted at regular intervals along boulevards or grouped near high-rise buildings. In Florida, these palms typically grow to about 80 feet. The trunk is gray and marked with closely spaced leaf scars, often partially covered by dead leaves that hang in a thatch-like manner. The single trunk, measuring approximately 10-12 inches (25.4-30.5 cm) in diameter, widens at the base and tapers as it ascends toward a crown of large palmate leaves with elegantly drooping tips. These glossy green leaves are around 5 feet (1.5 meters) long and 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide, supported by orange leaf stems about 3 feet (0.9 meters) long edged with sharp sawtooth spines.
As the leaves die, they fall against the trunk, creating what is known as the “hula skirt” effect for which this palm is renowned. However, this layer of dry dead leaves poses a fire risk and can attract pests like rats and other unwanted creatures. In California, many municipalities mandate the removal of these dead leaves—a challenging task given their height of up to 80 feet (25 meters). Conversely, in Florida’s humid climate with occasional strong winds, palms tend to remain free from such skirts more naturally.