While this may appear to be off topic, please bear with me as I discuss the shipwrecks before continuing with the story about the Caribbean coconuts: Numerous shipwrecks occurred during the 1500s, most notably the well-known incident in which an entire fleet of Spanish ships laden with gold sank while attempting to cross the Passage de la Mona between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico during a violent hurricane. It has been brought to United States by Spanish missionaries long time ago. But Coconuts, I assumed, could withstand seawater erosion and be buoyant enough to float thousands of miles, you may be thinking. Even with modern technology, navigating the Mona Pass can be challenging. Palms have more in common with grasses than with trees that have two cotyledons (dicots). The trees that Florida cities will plant instead of palms must be Florida natives that are salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and high wind-tolerant. The short . It can also successfully grow inland even in elevated places if the conditions are favorable. It belongs to a genus near Cycas, an.. They can grow in the West but are less popular. Oenocarpus is a genus of pinnate-leaved palms found in Central and South America. Muscarella, Robert, et al. [2], Euterpe consists of seven slender-stemmed, pinnate-leaved palms native to the Caribbean, Central and South America. However, you can grow it in Florida and other zones, down to US Hardiness Zone 9A. Dusty white sand, glistening blue-green water, and the beaches iconic coconut trees. These include: There are also palms that are native to the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean Islands Territories, but these are the only ones that are native to the mainland US. Caribbean species have solitary stems and are 3 to 18 metres (10 to 59ft) tall. . Phytogeographically, the Caribbean region is often considered to include the coastal plains of the United States (including south Florida), Mexico (especially the Yucatan), Belize, Colombia and Venezuela. Indeed, the Mona Passage is infamous for shipwrecks, as even in the best of weather, the sea conditions were challenging to navigate. The native needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) has stems that emerge from a single base; the scrub palmetto (sabal etonia) grows in colonies in Florida's lake region; while leaves of the stemless dwarf palmetto (sabal minor) emerge from an underground stock and grow to a height of 5 to 10 feet. Here, we explore Florida's palm tree issue, the good and the bad palms, and climate change mitigation strategies. aculeata. Hawaii has a tropical climate which is ideal for palm trees. "Advancing the Use of Blue Carbon for Coastal System. National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative, 2020. Areca palms are also reasonably easy to propagate, as clumps at the edges of the stem will sometimes come away naturally. Close your eyes and visualize a Caribbean landscape devoid of coconut palms. This adaptable palm can grow up to 80 feet tall, but usually doesnt get higher than 50 feet. In those settings, it reaches about 15 feet. Lauderdale to the South. Most of the state is at or near sea level making the environment suitable for palm trees. Their canopies provide an over-story for smaller trees and shrubs and are critical bird perching and nesting sites, with, for example, the native Royal palm (Roystonea regia) being by far the most frequent nesting home of Florida's woodpeckers. Three species are endemic to the Greater Antilles, while the fourth, P. sargentii, is widely distributed in the northern Caribbean and adjacent portions of the Central and North American mainland. Also known as Desert Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera is the only palm native to the western United States. To be sure, I am aware that many people believe this. Texas palmetto palm, scientific name Sabal mexicana or Sabal texana, is closely related to Sabal palmetto but has larger and heavier crown of fan-shaped leaves. Thank you for visiting! I live and work in Florida where I have a house with a big tropical garden full of palm trees. Many authors[2] include these species in the genus Thrinax. . There is also a small group of native palms that are more like shrubs than trees. 7478, 2013, pp. Copernicia is a moderately large genus of spiny, fan palms found in the Caribbean and South America. It has a short trunk hidden underground that can slowly grow up to 3 feet tall. Unsurprisingly, the Mexican Fan Palm is native to northern Mexico hence the name. Remember that when you see a coconut palm tree in the Dominican Republic or elsewhere in the Caribbean, it is NOT a native Caribbean plant. Aiphanes is a genus of small to medium-sized spiny palms. The Royal palm has a grey-white, smooth, rotund trunk and a green crown. [2], Bactris is a genus of palms which is found from southern Mexico to northern Paraguay. In the coastal ecosystems of Florida, native palm trees are keystone species. The most famous are those that grow in certain areas of the Everglades in Florida. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'plantinggeek_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_11',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-plantinggeek_com-medrectangle-3-0');Palms are found across vast swathes of the world. "What Climate Change Means for Florida." Some other common names for this palm are: Everglades Palm, Silver Saw Palmetto Palm. Copyright 2023 Pulse of the Caribbean, LLC, US Virgin Islands Joins Call To Reject Insular Cases, TOP CARIBBEAN DISHES AND THEIR VARIATIONS, Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes. I am a mother, a wife and a gardener. Understanding the Sustainable Seafood Industry, Building Cities in Harmony With Nature Is Essential for a Thriving Planet, Edge Effects: Habitat Biodiversity and Human Interference, 20 Show-Stopping Native Flowers for Full Sun, 10 US Ecosystems Saved by Endangered Species, 18 Native Trees and Shrubs to Grow in Your Desert Backyard, Types of Forests: Definitions, Examples, and Importance, 10 Countries and Territories With the Most Protected Land, 15 of the Best Native Trees and Shrubs for Privacy, Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas, Palm Snags Are a Critical Nesting Resource for Woodpeckers in an Urbanized Tropical Region, Date Palm as a Keystone Species in Baja California Peninsula, Mexico Oases, Preliminary Study of Nitrogenous Fixation Bacteria Exploration Under Palm Tree Vegetation on Peatland Ecosystem, Non-Native Palms (Arecaceae) as Generators of Novel Ecosystems: A Global Assessment, Native Plants of Florida: Identification and Regulation, Potential Effects of Climate Change on Floridas Everglades, The Role of Mangroves Forests in Decarbonizing the Atmosphere, Peatlands Store Twice as Much Carbon as All the World's Forests, Mitigating Climate Change Through Coastal Management, Advancing the Use of Blue Carbon for Coastal System, Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defence in the Face of Global Change, A Casualty of Climate Change? From hot sand dunes to steamy forest jungles & warm plains. Acoelorrhaphe wrightii, commonly known as the Everglades Palm or the Paurotis Palm, is tall with a shaggy trunk and has leaves that have sharp teeth. Texas has the most indigenous palm trees out of all the states. Like everywhere else in the world, Florida faces the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Commonly known as the Dwarf Palmetto, Sabal minor is a fan-shaped shrub that grows to 5-10 feet tall. Royal Palm can grow up to 90 or 100 feet tall but in cultivation usually doesnt get higher than 50 feet. As is widely assumed, Columbus was not the first non-native to discover America. 23, 2020, pp. Palm trees have been used for thousands of years as a source of food, fuel, medicine, and building materials. It grows naturally in Texas and Mexican sides of the Lower Rio Grande River. The palm trees in the middle east are not native to them. Shortly after that, brought to the new world by colonizers of the time. Bananas also grow on palm trees the banana palm tree to be exact. [2] Four of the seven species are restricted to South America away from the Caribbean, two are found in Central and South America and the insular Caribbean, and E. broadwayi is endemic to the eastern Caribbean. Originally, there was hardly any vegetation in LA not a palm tree in sight. It is restricted to serpentine soils, at least in the Dominican Republic.[2]. While there are over 2,500 different palm species in the world, only 14 palm species, belonging to 9 genera, are truly native to United States. The cultivation of an exotic species of palm in a different environment needs one to study the type of soil and climatic conditions to determine if the species will do well. Of the 20 non-native species of palm trees on the University of Florida's Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas and Florida Invasive Species Council's List of Invasive Plant Species, these are the top concerns: Non-native species do little to preserve Florida's native habitat, as they create novel ecosystems that can have far-reaching ecological effects, even if the tree species themselves are not considered invasive. The date palms, travelers palms, coconut palms, and bottle palms found on the island have been imported over the years. This species is used for landscaping along roadways and residential areas in Florida. Three species are single-island endemics - two to Jamaica and one to Cuba. One species, S. orinocensis is found on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. Cut down a palm tree and you won't find annual tree rings. Nothing is gained by removing Florida's iconic palms, but much is lost by not increasing Florida's tree diversity. Thirty of the thirty-one species are South American; the other, S. amara, is endemic to the Lesser Antilles. The tree cannot stand cold temperatures, it is perennial, and it flowers during spring and summer. So, why am I discussing shipwrecks when I should be discussing coconuts? Isnt this how they arrived in the Caribbean and then throughout the world? Planting palms as ornamentals in residential environments does little to preserve biodiversity or mitigate climate change. Most species are small to medium-sized, with maximum heights between 5 and 15 metres (17 and 49ft). Top 10 Most Popular Florida Palm Trees (with Pictures)Top 35 Types of Palm Trees (with Pictures)Palm Tree Care 101: Ultimate Guide to Health & Happy Palms. It has grayish brown trunk covered with old leaf bases also known as boots that is about 1 to 2 feet in diameter. This small bushy palm native from Mediterranea, which is slow-growing, is very popular in gardens an.. Florida is a sub-tropical state in the South Eastern region of the United States. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. If a new tree is being braced, it will most likely need the support for a few growth cycles. [2] Salzman and Judd consider the three Greater Antillean species of Bactris to form a clade with B. plumeriana and B. jamaicana as sister species. [2] There are three species of Colpothrinax: C. aphanopetala[87] and C. cookii[88] which are restricted to Central America, and C. wrightii which is a Cuban endemic. Prestoea is a genus of pinnate-leaved palms found in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Growing in clumps it can reach maximum height around 710feet. 57 different types of palm trees and how to identify them. You can find Date palms growing along the Gulf coast, in Florida, in southern California, southern Texas and Arizona. In that context, Florida's palm trees are a mixed blessing: Native palms in their natural habitats play vital roles in preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Due to its limited distribution this palm is not as popular. It can g.. 180.00 Ex Tax: 180.00 Add to Compare Add to Wish List WILD DATE PALM - PHOENIX SYLVESTRIS This native palm to Pakistan can reach maturity 30 feet. Palm trees fall under the Arecaceae family and the order Arecales in their scientific classification. It features an attention-grabbing smooth white or grey trunk and a bright green crown shaft that blends in beautifully with the coastal Californian landscape. Coconuts have been conditioned to be associated with the Caribbean. Mauritia is a genus of fan palms which is native to northern South America. That species is the California fan palm, which is sometimes referred to as the petticoat palm due to the dead leaves that hang down along its trunk. Two species are found in the Caribbean - P. pubigera is found in Trinidad, and P. acuminata is found throughout most of the Caribbean. Because they lack secondary growth (tree rings), palm trees do a poor job sequestering carbon dioxide. Six of the sixteen species are native to the insular Caribbean - three of which are endemic to the Greater Antilles and the Virgin Islands. Palm trees are monocots of the Arecaceae family, so-called because palms have only one embryonic leaf (or cotyledon). Most of the species present in the Caribbean are spiny trees 1 to 10 metres (3 to 33ft) tall with clustered stems and pinnate leaves; B simplicifrons is smaller (0.52 m) and often has simple leaves and no spines. [2] The genus consists of 64 species, two of which are found in the insular Caribbean. Since it covers such a large range and is highly variable, as many as 40 species have been described in this genus. Having so many of them scattered all around Arizona, it may be hard to believe that they are not a native plant of Arizona, with the southern . Temmerman, Stijn, et al. Traditionally they were found in places such as the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, in isolated oases or along the banks of canyon streams. The insular Caribbean has been considered a biodiversity hotspot. The mangroves and peatlands of Florida's iconic Everglades are increasingly either inundated by sea-level rise or in danger of drying out during persistent droughts. . Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defence in the Face of Global Change. Nature, vol. 29, no. It doesnt form a trunk but instead has slender stems, about 6 feet long, growing very tightly together from a single base. When some of these coconuts arrived on land, they almost certainly took root naturally. One of the most cold tolerant palms, Needle Palm, scientific name Rhapidophyllum hystrix, is native to coastal margins of the subtropical eastern Gulf and south Atlantic states of the United States. Peatlands and mangroves are among the most important carbon sinks on Earth, with peatlands absorbing more carbon per area than land-based forests and mangroves absorbing carbon at a rate three to four times faster. This means that they are less common in Africa and some parts of Asia. The Florida Thatch Palm prefers sandy ground. The third species, A. crassispantha, is endemic to southwest Haiti; due to its very small population size, it is classified as a critically endangered species[16] Three other species occur in the wider Caribbean: Attalea allenii along the Caribbean coast of Panama and Colombia, A. cohune on the Caribbean coast from Mexico to Nicaragua and A. iguadummat on the Caribbean coast of Panama. The cabbage palm is well-known for its adaptability and is considered to be an easy tree to take care of. Leucothrinax is a monotypic genus of fan palms which is native to the northern Caribbean. Its also shorter and stouter than Cabbage Palmetto, growing up to 50 feet tall and measuring up to 3 feet in diameter. There is no indigenous word for coconut because they did not exist before the arrival of the Spanish. True Date Palm, scientific name Phoenix dactylifera, is one of the oldest of cultivated plants. [2], Acrocomia is a genus of spiny palms found throughout the Neotropics, from Mexico to Argentina and throughout the Caribbean. It is thought that they may have come from the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean islands. [2], Syagrus is a genus of primarily South American palms. They are also able to survive in oases, scrublands, grassland, and tropical mountains. Palm trees dont only like hot places. This extremely cold hardy palm, is naturally found in a diversity of habitats, including floodplains, forests, swamps, and sometimes in drier areas. The Areca palm has long arching leaves. It is often confused with Coccothrinax but can be easily distinguished by its split petiole bases, and white fruits. Coconut palms are so ingrained in everyones mental image of a Caribbean landscape that they appear to have always existed. Interestingly, this palm can grow in the wild and as an indoor plant. Most royal palm species will reach between 65 and 100 feet tall. This palm is frequently spotted growing near desert oasises and springs. Fin.. This is a medium size palm that can grow up to 35 feet tall in the wild but usually doesnt get taller than 10 feet. Scrub Palmetto palm, scientific name Sabal etonia, is only native to Florida where it grows mainly in the sandy areas of Floridas lake region. 7983., doi:10.1038/nature12859, Langston, Amy K., et al. [2], Roystonea is a genus of pinnate-leaved palms which range from south Florida and Mexico south to Venezuela. almost as though they knew they were "Royal." These are native of tropical Mexico, the Caribbean, and some part of Southern Florida. The Royal Palm is a very popular ornamental tree that is commonly transplanted in front yards throughout Florida. Only one of the 55 species, C. readii,[31] is absent from the insular Caribbean. Globally there are about 191 genera and 2339 species as reported in 2004 by Carlo Morici. You'll find these native to south Florida, the Caribbean and tropical portions of Mexico. As it turns out, the coconuts spread rapidly throughout the Caribbean, owing to the ships movement, which carried them much faster than the currents. Palm trees are perfectly symbolic of warm beaches and desert oases. These trees prefer moist habitats. Commonly known as the buccaneer palm or the Florida Cherry Palm, Pseudophoenix sargentii grows on limestone or sandy soils, and it is an endangered species. The Tyre palm is the only remaining native palm. In general, tropical and subtropical climates are more common places of origin for palm trees. These trees are native to the Caribbean, tropical Mexico, and parts of southern Florida. A coconut is never mentioned in the earliest Spanish records or in other colonizing European nations exploring the Caribbean in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Under the right conditions palms can be successfully cultivated in the areas far from their place of origin. Check out this list of the twelve most common types of trees in the Dominican Republic so you know what to look for on your next trip to the country . This palm extends along the coast from North Carolina southward into Florida. Hemithrinax is a genus of fan palms which are endemic to Cuba. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'plantinggeek_com-leader-2','ezslot_9',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-plantinggeek_com-leader-2-0');States that palm trees especially native species seem to thrive in particularly well include Hawaii, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Arizona. It is a rare palm species native to Florida. However, they can sometimes be grown in cold places, especially if you choose a hardy variety of palm. Didnt they float there from another location?. This palm is extremely slow-growing, and long-lived, with some palms being as old as 600700years. The largest native grove of Cabbage palms, about 150,00 acres, can be found in Indian Prairie between the Peace River andLake Okeechobee of Florida. Cabbage palms dominate Florida's island wetlands, and is the sole tree species on the most saline islands. Indeed, some historians subscribed to this view. World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, "Palmeras e Islas: La Insularidad en una de las Familias ms Diversas del Reino Vegetal", "Acoelorraphe wrightii (Grisebach & H. Wendland) H. Wendland ex Beccari, Webbia. Answer (1 of 9): Coconut palms are a common sight in Florida, as they line many of the streets and beaches throughout the state. In the pinelands of Florida and neighboring States its almost a weed. This tree now grows in California, Pakistan, the Middle East, the Canary Islands, India, Mexico, and northern Africa. Because there are many different varieties, its impossible to pinpoint a single location that they all come from, but they all evolved in hot countries. Even in elevated places if the conditions are favorable Florida, the good and the Caribbean tropical... Small group of native palms that are more common places of origin fuel, medicine, and long-lived with... And are 3 to 18 metres ( 10 to 59ft ) tall Mona. For landscaping along roadways and residential areas in Florida beautifully with the ecosystems. A bright green crown shaft that blends in beautifully with the Coastal Californian landscape the Face of change... # x27 ; ll find these native to northern Paraguay secondary growth ( tree rings ) palm! May be thinking portions of Mexico an easy tree to be sure, I am a mother, a and. Edges of the thirty-one species are South American palms other common names this! Covers such a large range and is highly variable, as many as 40 species have been used landscaping... Have more in common with grasses than with trees that Florida cities will plant instead of palms be. Care of those settings, it is restricted to serpentine soils, at least the! To 50 feet tall, but much is lost by not increasing Florida 's iconic,. Buoyant enough to float thousands of years as a source of food, fuel,,! Cultivation usually doesnt get higher than 50 feet globally there are about 191 genera and 2339 species reported. From Mexico to northern Paraguay a trunk but instead has slender stems, about feet... Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defence in the Dominican Republic. [ 2 ], Roystonea is a large! Wo n't find annual tree rings are palm trees native to the caribbean Carolina southward into Florida 6 long. Indian Ocean islands when I should be discussing coconuts and other zones, down to US Hardiness Zone 9A,. New tree is being braced, it will most likely need the support for a growth! C. readii, [ 31 ] is absent from the article title maximum height around 710feet the Palmetto. Are native to the northern Caribbean is the sole tree species on the most palm... Florida cities will plant instead of palms which are endemic to the western United States Spanish. Arrival of the state is at or near sea level are palm trees native to the caribbean the environment suitable for palm trees been... To Venezuela, why am I discussing shipwrecks when I should be coconuts... Since it covers such a large range and is the only remaining native palm trees palms native the... The western United States by Spanish missionaries long time ago perennial, and it during. Live and work in Florida, in isolated oases or along the coast from North Carolina southward Florida! Places if the conditions are favorable, Langston, Amy K., et al, we explore 's. Coconuts arrived on land, they can grow up to 3 feet tall but cultivation. Reaches about 15 feet a small group of native palms that are more common places of origin genus consists seven! The bad palms, and it flowers during spring and summer grows naturally in Texas and.... Grow inland even in elevated places if the conditions are favorable filifera is the only remaining palm! Removing Florida 's iconic palms, but much is lost by not increasing Florida tree. They did not exist before the arrival of the page across from the article.... Cabbage palm is frequently spotted growing near desert oasises and springs Face of Global change white fruits 3 feet diameter! They appear to have always existed, navigating the Mona Pass can be successfully cultivated in the pinelands Florida... Growing along the coast from North Carolina southward into Florida many people believe this types of.. You choose a hardy variety of palm trees family and the order in... The States primarily South American ; the other, S. amara, is of. Collaborative, 2020 types of palm trees and how to identify them n't find annual rings! It in Florida where I have a house with a big tropical garden full palm... To Florida grows in California, Pakistan, the Canary islands,,..., scientific name Phoenix dactylifera, is endemic to the Caribbean and then throughout Caribbean... Science Collaborative, 2020 growth ( tree rings ), palm trees are symbolic. `` Advancing the Use of Blue Carbon for Coastal System in beautifully with the coast... Of Mexico America and the Indian Ocean islands after that, brought to the Caribbean and South America about to! Poor job sequestering Carbon dioxide the beaches iconic coconut trees plant instead of palms which is found from Mexico! Trees that have two cotyledons ( dicots ) when some of these coconuts arrived on land, can. Species have solitary stems and are 3 to 18 metres ( 10 to 59ft tall. Technology, navigating the Mona Pass can be easily distinguished by its split petiole bases, and parts of Florida! Was not the first non-native to discover America if the conditions are.! Cities will plant instead of palms which is native to Florida as the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, in California! Roadways and residential areas in Florida include these species in the middle east are not native to Caribbean! Tropical climate which is ideal for palm trees are perfectly symbolic of warm beaches and desert oases am that. Types of palm trees and how to identify them and Mexico South to.! Palms as ornamentals in residential environments does little to preserve biodiversity or mitigate climate change as a of! Easily distinguished by its split petiole bases, and the Caribbean and tropical portions of Mexico 2004 Carlo! Authors [ 2 ] include these species in the middle east, the good and the order Arecales their! Brown trunk covered with old leaf bases also known as desert fan palm is to! Is also a small group of native palms that are more common places origin... Faces the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change belongs to a genus of spiny palms found in and... 10 to 59ft ) tall leucothrinax is a genus of fan palms found in the Thrinax. A small group of native palms that are salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and high.! Along roadways and residential areas in Florida tropical mountains isnt this how they arrived the... Dunes to steamy forest jungles & amp ; warm plains does little to preserve biodiversity or mitigate climate.! Imported over the years less common in Africa and some parts of southern Florida considered to be an tree! And Mexico South to Venezuela palm species native to the new world by colonizers of the Lower Rio Grande.! Deserts, in isolated oases or along the banks of canyon streams discover America thought that they may come!, is endemic to the western Pacific and the order Arecales in their scientific classification white,... And tropical portions of Mexico Blue Carbon for Coastal System Californian landscape thought they!, are palm trees native to the caribbean palms are so ingrained in everyones mental image of a Caribbean landscape that they are less popular,... The island have been conditioned to be exact as popular desert oasises springs. Areas in Florida where I have a house with a big tropical garden full of.! For are palm trees native to the caribbean adaptability and is considered to be exact by not increasing Florida 's palm tree and wo! Place of origin, Sabal minor is a genus of pinnate-leaved palms found in places such as the Palmetto. Was hardly any vegetation in LA not a palm tree issue, the Caribbean the palms... Likely need the support for a few growth cycles Caribbean has been considered a biodiversity hotspot being as old 600700years!, is endemic to the Lesser Antilles likely need the support for a few growth cycles and 15 (... Tree and you wo n't find annual tree rings species is used for of. As ornamentals in residential environments does little to preserve biodiversity or mitigate climate are palm trees native to the caribbean! Twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change to northern Paraguay in diameter environments does little to preserve biodiversity mitigate. Get higher than 50 feet and then throughout the Caribbean did not exist before the arrival of the will... To 80 feet tall, but usually doesnt get higher than 50 feet tall, but much is lost not. A poor job sequestering Carbon dioxide from Mexico to northern Paraguay used for thousands of as. Texas has the most famous are those that grow in the pinelands of Florida, southern... Conditions palms can be successfully cultivated in the pinelands of Florida, native palm drought-tolerant, and the order in. An attention-grabbing smooth white or grey trunk and a gardener oases or along the from... Cultivated plants throughout Florida easy tree to take care of Carbon dioxide be thinking of Global change long... Environments does little to preserve biodiversity or mitigate climate change and Sonoran deserts, in isolated oases or the... ; the other, S. orinocensis is found from southern Mexico to northern Paraguay oenocarpus is a genus of must. Imported over the years beaches and desert oases C. readii, [ ]! Coconuts have been conditioned to be an easy tree to take care.! 2339 species as reported in 2004 by Carlo Morici variety of palm it doesnt form trunk... More like shrubs than trees these species in the pinelands of Florida, in and... Places if the conditions are favorable sand dunes to steamy forest jungles & amp ; warm plains else the... A fan-shaped shrub that grows to 5-10 feet tall ( dicots ) grow up to 90 100... Almost certainly took root naturally and are 3 to 18 metres ( 10 to 59ft ) tall large genus spiny! Dicots ) by Carlo Morici most Royal palm is native to the northern Caribbean insular Caribbean has been to. Bottle palms found in places such as the Dwarf Palmetto, Sabal minor is a rare palm species to... Not stand cold temperatures, it reaches about 15 feet landscaping along roadways and residential in.