Different Species of Palm Trees in Florida

Palm trees are flowering, evergreen plants that grow in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates. An ancient vestige of the late Cretaceous Period, palm trees first appeared 80-million years ago, with modern palm tree species evolving 70-million years ago. Palm tree species display a tremendous diversity in size, shape, and regional adaptations. Florida's climate is ideally suited for palm tree growth and is home to a wide variety of palm tree species.

Mexican Fan Palm

The Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) is native to the Mexican desert and is inexpensive, hardy, drought resistant, and easy to maintain, making it a popular Florida palm. With a wide trunk base that tapers with height, the Mexican Fan Palm can reach heights of 100 feet.

Saw Palmetto

The saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a small, cold-tolerant palm tree native to Florida and the Southeastern United States. Slow growing to a height of 5 to10 feet, the saw palmetto requires direct sunlight and moderate watering.

Coconut Palm

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) trees are native to the South Pacific islands and are found in south Florida and the Florida Keys. Growing to 60 feet in height, the coconut palm has a fast growth rate and produces coconuts year-round. A single coconut palm can produce 200 coconuts per year.

Cabbage Palm

The cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) is an iconic-looking palm tree and one of the most popular palm trees in Florida. The cabbage palm grows 30 to 40 feet in height with a tall, branch-free trunk and a bushy, dense evergreen palm-frond crown top.

Bismarck Palm

The Bismarck palm (Bismarckia nobilis) is a popular fan-type Florida palm tree native to Madagascar. With a short, stout trunk, and long palm fronds angled nearly 180 degrees to level, the Bismarck palm has green to sliver-blue fronds that make this species distinctly recognizable.