20 Different Types of Palm Trees: Identification, Features, and Care

There is something about a palm tree that stops people in their tracks. It might be the silhouette against a sunset sky, the sound of fronds moving in a warm breeze, or simply the association with somewhere warm, unhurried, and far from ordinary life. Whatever the reason, palms are among the most emotionally resonant trees in the world — and among the most botanically fascinating.

The palm family — Arecaceae — contains over 2,600 known species, making it one of the largest plant families on Earth. Palms grow naturally across tropical, subtropical, and some warm temperate regions on every continent except Antarctica. They range from towering coastal giants to compact understorey shrubs, from drought-adapted desert species to palms that grow with their roots in standing water.

This guide covers twenty of the most significant, widely recognised, and horticulturally important palm species — exploring their origins, appearance, growth habits, and best uses in the landscape.

1. Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)

If any palm deserves the title of most iconic tree on Earth, it is the coconut palm. Recognised instantly by its gracefully arching trunk, feathery pinnate fronds, and large, round fruits, it grows throughout tropical coastlines worldwide and has been a central part of human civilisation in the tropics for thousands of years.

It is, in practical terms, one of the most economically important plants in existence. Every part of the tree is used — the fruit for food, drink, and oil; the fronds for thatching and weaving; the trunk for timber; the husk for fibre; the shell for fuel and craft. In many tropical cultures, the coconut palm is called the “tree of life.”

It grows to 25 to 30 metres (80 to 100 feet) with a trunk that leans characteristically toward light and water, often growing at a pronounced angle. It requires a tropical climate, full sun, sandy well-drained soil, and consistent warmth — it does not tolerate frost. Hardy only to USDA Zone 10b.

Best for: Tropical and coastal tropical landscapes, food production, and ornamental planting in warm climates.

2. Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)

The date palm has sustained human populations in the Middle East and North Africa for at least 5,000 years. It is one of the oldest cultivated trees in human history, appearing in ancient Mesopotamian art, Egyptian tomb paintings, and the sacred texts of multiple major religions.

It grows to 25 metres (80 feet) or more, with a stout trunk covered in the diamond-shaped scars of shed leaf bases and a crown of arching, grey-green pinnate fronds up to 6 metres (20 feet) long. Female trees produce the familiar sweet, caramel-like dates in large hanging clusters.

The date palm is extraordinarily drought-tolerant — adapted to desert conditions with deep water tables — and tolerates more cold than many other tropical palms, surviving brief temperatures down to -9°C (15°F) once established. It is widely planted as an ornamental street and landscape tree in Mediterranean and semi-arid climates. Hardy to USDA Zone 8.

Best for: Arid and semi-arid landscapes, Mediterranean-style gardens, street planting, and fruit production.

3. Royal Palm (Roystonea regia)

Few palms command a landscape with more authority than the royal palm. Its trunk is a smooth, cement-grey column of almost architectural perfection — perfectly straight, slightly swollen in the middle, and topped with a bright green crownshaft from which the long, arching fronds emerge. It is the classic avenue palm of grand tropical landscapes.

Native to Cuba and parts of the Caribbean and southern Florida, it grows to 20 to 30 metres (65 to 100 feet) in height. It is the national tree of Cuba and has been planted in avenues, parks, and ceremonial landscapes across the tropics and subtropics.

It grows quickly in warm, humid conditions and tolerates wet soils better than most palms. The crownshaft — the smooth, waxy, bright green column formed by the leaf bases at the top of the trunk — is one of its most distinctive features and a reliable identification marker. Hardy to USDA Zone 10a.

Best for: Grand avenues, tropical parks, estate landscapes, and formal tropical plantings.

4. Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)

The queen palm is one of the most widely planted ornamental palms in the world, found in gardens, streets, and parks across subtropical and warm temperate regions from California to Australia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean. Its appeal is clear: graceful arching fronds, a slender, smooth-ringed trunk, and a manageable size relative to many other tall palm species.

Native to South America — primarily Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay — it grows to 12 to 15 metres (40 to 50 feet) with a straight trunk marked by evenly spaced rings from shed leaf bases. It produces clusters of bright orange fruits that attract birds and wildlife but create litter beneath the tree on hard surfaces.

It grows quickly and adapts to a wide range of soils, though it shows nutrient deficiency — particularly potassium, magnesium, and manganese — readily in alkaline soils, producing yellowed or frizzled fronds. Regular palm-specific fertilisation prevents most of these issues. Hardy to USDA Zone 9b.

Best for: Residential gardens, street planting, parks, and subtropical landscapes.

5. Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis)

The Canary Island date palm is among the most majestic ornamental palms cultivated outside the tropics. Its trunk is massive and barrel-shaped at the base, covered in distinctive diamond-patterned scars, and topped with a spherical crown of up to 200 recurving, bright green pinnate fronds. Mature specimens are genuinely breathtaking.

Native to the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa, it grows to 15 to 20 metres (50 to 65 feet). It is widely planted in Mediterranean climates, coastal California, the American Southwest, parts of Australia, and South Africa. It tolerates considerable cold for a large ornamental palm — surviving to -8°C (17°F) once established — which extends its cultivation range considerably.

It grows slowly and takes many years to develop its characteristic trunk, but the wait is worth it. Once mature, it dominates any landscape it occupies with effortless grandeur. Hardy to USDA Zone 8b.

Best for: Mediterranean gardens, grand landscape specimens, coastal planting, and formal entries.

6. Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)

The windmill palm holds a special place in temperate gardening because it is one of the hardiest palms in cultivation — surviving temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F) when established in a sheltered position. This cold tolerance has made it the palm of choice for gardeners in the UK, Pacific Northwest, and other cool temperate regions who want to achieve a tropical effect without a tropical climate.

Native to central and eastern China and the eastern Himalayas, it grows to 12 metres (40 feet) or more in sheltered positions. Its trunk is covered in a distinctive brown, fibrous mat — the persistent bases of old leaf stalks — giving it a shaggy, textured appearance unique among commonly cultivated palms. The fan-shaped leaves are deeply divided and held on long stalks.

It grows slowly but steadily and requires little maintenance once established. In the UK, mature specimens growing outdoors in Cornwall, southern England, and sheltered urban gardens have become landmarks in their own right. Hardy to USDA Zone 8a.

Best for: Cool temperate gardens seeking a tropical effect, sheltered courtyard planting, and containers.

7. Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta)

The Mexican fan palm is the archetypal skyline palm of Southern California — the tall, slender-trunked, feather-duster-topped silhouette that defines the look of Los Angeles, San Diego, and countless other warm-climate cities. It grows at remarkable speed and to exceptional height — up to 30 metres (100 feet) or more — with a slender, tapering trunk that becomes disproportionately tall relative to its canopy.

Native to the Baja California peninsula and the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora, it is naturally found near streams and oases in desert and semi-arid terrain. It tolerates drought, poor soils, and reflected heat from paving admirably once established.

The dead fronds, rather than falling, hang against the trunk in a dense “skirt” — visually distinctive but a fire hazard and wildlife habitat concern in some regions. Many municipalities require removal of the dead frond skirt. Hardy to USDA Zone 9a.

Best for: Street planting, skyline effect planting, desert and semi-arid landscapes.

8. California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera)

The California fan palm is the only palm species native to California — and to the western United States more broadly. It grows naturally in desert oases in the Sonoran Desert, where underground water sources allow it to persist in an otherwise hostile environment. These native palm oases are among the most striking natural habitats in North America.

It is distinguished from the closely related Mexican fan palm by its broader trunk, larger and greyer-green fan leaves, and ultimately shorter stature — reaching 15 to 18 metres (50 to 60 feet) compared to the Mexican fan palm’s 30 metres or more. It also has white thread-like fibres hanging from the leaf margins — a characteristic reflected in its specific epithet filifera (thread-bearing).

It is somewhat cold-hardier than the Mexican fan palm, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°C (14°F). Hardy to USDA Zone 8b.

Best for: Desert oasis landscapes, native California plantings, and arid southwestern gardens.

9. Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

The pygmy date palm is one of the most widely used ornamental palms in landscaping worldwide, valued for its small size, graceful form, and adaptability to container growing. It is the palm you will most often find flanking hotel entrances, decorating shopping centre atriums, and softening the corners of indoor lobbies.

Native to southwestern China, Laos, and Vietnam, it grows to just 2 to 3 metres (6 to 10 feet) in height — occasionally reaching 4 metres with great age. The trunk is slender and slightly rough-textured, and the fronds are delicate and arching with narrow, soft leaflets that create a refined, feathery silhouette.

It is surprisingly cold-tolerant for a small tropical palm, surviving light frosts down to about -3°C (27°F) in sheltered positions. It grows well in containers, which also allows it to be moved indoors during cold months in cooler climates. Hardy to USDA Zone 9b.

Best for: Container growing, indoor and atrium planting, small gardens, and entry plantings.

10. Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis)

If there is one palm that photographers and landscape designers consistently find irresistible, it is the Bismarck palm. Its massive, silvery-blue fan leaves — each reaching 3 metres (10 feet) or more across — create a crown of extraordinary colour and scale. In full sun, the steel-blue foliage glows with an almost metallic quality.

Native to the grasslands and savannas of Madagascar, it grows to 20 to 25 metres (65 to 80 feet) with a stout, grey trunk. It is a slow to moderate grower that, once established, is surprisingly drought-tolerant and adaptable to a range of soils.

There is a less commonly planted green-leafed form, but the silver-blue form is overwhelmingly preferred in horticulture for its colour impact. It requires full sun, excellent drainage, and a warm climate to perform at its best. Hardy to USDA Zone 10a.

Best for: Statement specimen planting in tropical and subtropical landscapes, colour contrast in large gardens.

11. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

The areca palm — also called the golden cane palm or bamboo palm — is one of the most widely sold indoor plants in the world. Its clumping growth habit, bright golden-yellow petioles, and arching, feathery fronds make it ideal for interior decoration, and it has been featured in countless homes, offices, and public spaces as an indoor plant for decades.

Native to Madagascar, it grows to 6 to 10 metres (20 to 33 feet) outdoors in tropical climates, forming dense, multi-stemmed clumps. The stems are bright golden-yellow when young and growing in good light — one of its most appealing features. In lower indoor light, the yellow fades to green.

It is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA — a significant advantage over many tropical plants. It prefers moist, well-drained soil, high humidity, and bright indirect light indoors. Hardy to USDA Zone 10b outdoors.

Best for: Indoor plant use, container growing, tropical poolside planting, and screening in warm climates.

12. Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcata)

The foxtail palm was unknown to science until 1978, when an Aboriginal Australian man named Wodyeti — after whom the genus is named — revealed the location of a naturally occurring population in the remote Cape Melville Range of Queensland, Australia. It has since become one of the most popular ornamental palms in tropical and subtropical horticulture worldwide.

Its common name comes from its fronds, which are uniquely plumed — the leaflets emerge from the rachis (central stalk) in multiple planes, creating a full, bushy, fox-tail silhouette rather than the flat plane typical of most pinnate-leafed palms. The effect is lush and exceptionally ornamental.

It grows to 10 to 15 metres (33 to 50 feet) with a self-cleaning trunk — old fronds drop cleanly without leaving persistent leaf base stubs — making it one of the lower-maintenance ornamental palms available. Hardy to USDA Zone 10a.

Best for: Tropical and subtropical gardens, poolside planting, and low-maintenance ornamental planting.

13. Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)

The sago “palm” is not technically a palm at all — it belongs to the cycad family (Cycadaceae), an ancient group of plants that predates the dinosaurs. But it is so consistently grouped with palms in horticultural literature, retail plant sections, and landscaping practice that it warrants inclusion here, with that distinction clearly noted.

Native to Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and widely grown across subtropical and warm temperate climates, it is one of the most widely cultivated ornamental cycads in the world. It produces a compact, symmetrical rosette of stiff, dark green pinnate fronds from a short, rough-textured trunk that grows extremely slowly — adding only a few centimetres of trunk height per decade.

It is important to note that all parts of the sago palm are highly toxic — to humans, dogs, cats, and livestock. The seeds are particularly dangerous. Despite its common name and appearance, it is not a food plant in ordinary circumstances. Hardy to USDA Zone 8b.

Best for: Tropical and subtropical garden accents, containers, and drought-tolerant landscaping.

14. Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

The saw palmetto is native to the southeastern United States — from South Carolina and Georgia through Florida — where it forms vast, low-growing colonies across the coastal plains and pine flatwoods. It is not the tall, dramatic palm of tourist postcards. It is a ground-level, clumping shrub palm — rarely exceeding 2 to 3 metres (6 to 10 feet) in height even in old age.

What it lacks in stature it makes up for in resilience. The saw palmetto is extraordinarily drought-tolerant, fire-resistant (it resprouts vigorously after burning), and long-lived — some clones are estimated to be thousands of years old based on genetic analysis.

Its common name comes from the sharply toothed petioles (leaf stalks), which can cause significant cuts when pushing through a colony.

It has gained considerable attention as a source of plant compounds used in herbal medicine for prostate health, making it one of the most commercially harvested wild plants in the United States. Hardy to USDA Zone 7b.

Best for: Native southeastern US plantings, drought-tolerant and fire-adapted landscapes, ground cover.

15. European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis)

The European fan palm holds the distinction of being the only palm species native to continental Europe. It grows naturally across the western Mediterranean basin — from Portugal and southern Spain through southern France, Italy, and the coastal regions of North Africa — where it forms dense, clumping colonies in scrubland and coastal garrigue.

It is a compact, multi-stemmed shrub palm, rarely exceeding 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 feet) in height, with stiff, grey-green fan leaves on sharply spiny petioles. The multiple stems give established plants a broad, densely layered appearance.

It is one of the cold-hardiest palms available — surviving to approximately -12°C (10°F) in dry conditions — which has made it a widely planted ornamental in European and Mediterranean gardens and increasingly in temperate gardens worldwide. It is also very drought-tolerant once established. Hardy to USDA Zone 8a.

Best for: Mediterranean gardens, drought-tolerant landscapes, cool temperate climate gardens, containers.

16. Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)

The Kentia palm is perhaps the most elegant of all indoor palms and has been prized as a houseplant since the Victorian era, when it was fashionable in grand European homes and public spaces. Today it remains one of the finest choices for indoor growing — tolerating lower light, drier air, and inconsistent watering better than most comparable palms.

Native exclusively to Lord Howe Island, a small Australian island in the Tasman Sea, it grows to 10 to 12 metres (33 to 40 feet) outdoors but is usually kept much smaller in container cultivation. Its fronds are dark green, long, and gracefully arching, with broad leaflets that give it a refined, full appearance.

It is non-toxic to cats and dogs and grows slowly — which actually works in its favour as an indoor plant, since it remains manageable for many years without repotting or heavy pruning. Hardy to USDA Zone 10a outdoors.

Best for: Indoor and conservatory growing, hotel and public space planting, and elegant container use.

17. Traveller’s Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis)

The traveller’s palm is not actually a palm at all — it belongs to the family Strelitziaceae, closely related to bird of paradise flowers. But its striking appearance is so distinctively palm-like, and it is so consistently included in tropical garden design alongside true palms, that it earns its place on this list.

Native to Madagascar, it is instantly recognisable by its enormous, banana-like leaves arranged in a perfect flat fan — all emerging from a single plane like the pages of an open book. This fan is always oriented approximately east-west, which reputedly allowed travellers to determine direction — hence the common name.

The “leaf bases” of this plant collect rainwater, providing a second source of water referenced in its common name. It grows to 7 to 10 metres (23 to 33 feet) with a palm-like trunk developing with age. Hardy to USDA Zone 10a.

Best for: Bold tropical statement planting, focal point specimens, and architectural garden use.

18. Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)

The African oil palm is one of the most economically significant plants in the world. It is the source of palm oil — one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the global food and cosmetics industries — and is cultivated on an industrial scale across tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

Native to West and Central Africa, it grows to 20 metres (65 feet) or more in cultivation, with a slender trunk covered in old leaf base stubs and a crown of long, arching pinnate fronds. It produces massive fruit bunches — each weighing 20 to 30 kilograms — from which oil is extracted from both the mesocarp and the kernel.

Its cultivation has become deeply controversial due to its association with large-scale deforestation and habitat loss for orangutans and other endangered species in Southeast Asia. This context is important for any complete discussion of the species. As an ornamental tree outside commercial cultivation, it has limited garden use.

Best for: Tropical regions, commercial oil production, and botanical collections documenting economically significant plants.

19. Jubaea / Chilean Wine Palm (Jubaea chilensis)

The Chilean wine palm is one of the rarest and most remarkable palms in the world. Native to a narrow coastal region of central Chile, it has the most massive trunk of any palm species — reaching over 1 metre (3 feet) in diameter in mature specimens. Combined with a height of 25 to 30 metres (80 to 100 feet), it creates an impression of sheer solidity and permanence that no other palm matches.

It is also among the hardiest of the large-trunked ornamental palms, tolerating temperatures down to -12°C (10°F) once established. This cold hardiness, combined with its massive ornamental presence, has made it highly sought after in temperate landscapes in the UK, Pacific Northwest, and Mediterranean regions.

It grows with extraordinary slowness — taking decades to develop any visible trunk — and is listed as vulnerable in its native range due to historical exploitation for palm sap used to make a fermented drink called chicha de palma. Hardy to USDA Zone 8.

Best for: Large-scale landmark specimen planting in temperate and Mediterranean climates.

20. Fishtail Palm (Caryota mitis)

The fishtail palm takes its common name from the distinctive shape of its leaflets — each one is roughly wedge-shaped, with an irregular, ragged outer edge that resembles the tail fin of a fish. No other commonly cultivated palm has this leaf shape, making identification instant and certain.

Native to Southeast Asia — from India and Sri Lanka through mainland Southeast Asia to southern China — it grows as a clustering, multi-stemmed species to 8 to 12 metres (26 to 40 feet). The stems are monocarpic, meaning each individual stem flowers only once, then dies. However, since the plant produces multiple stems continuously, the colony persists as individual stems come and go over the years.

It is widely used in tropical and subtropical landscaping for its bold, unusual foliage texture. It tolerates partial shade better than most ornamental palms, making it useful under the canopy of larger trees. The fruits are toxic and cause intense skin irritation due to calcium oxalate crystals — handle with care. Hardy to USDA Zone 10a.

Best for: Tropical and subtropical gardens, shaded planting positions, and bold foliage contrast.

Choosing the Right Palm for Your Garden

With over 2,600 palm species in existence — and twenty covered in detail here — the challenge is not finding a palm you admire. It is finding the one that suits your specific climate, space, and purpose.

Climate is the most important factor. Before anything else, establish what cold temperatures your location experiences in winter and choose a species rated accordingly. The windmill palm and Chilean wine palm are the best options for cool temperate climates. The date palm, Canary Island date palm, and European fan palm suit Mediterranean and semi-arid climates. For true tropical conditions, the full range of species is available.

Consider the space available. The royal palm and Mexican fan palm reach 25 to 30 metres and require substantial horizontal space in the landscape as well. The pygmy date palm, European fan palm, and areca palm remain compact and suit smaller gardens and containers.

Think about purpose. For indoor use, the kentia palm and areca palm are unmatched. For dramatic foliage colour, the Bismarck palm is exceptional. For fast coastal screening, the Canary Island date palm or Monterey fan palms work well. For small garden accents, the pygmy date palm or windmill palm are ideal.

Soil and drainage matter. Most palms prefer well-drained soil and will decline in waterlogged conditions. The notable exceptions are species like the bald cypress — not a palm, but an important reminder that wetland species exist at the edges of the palm world.

General Palm Tree Care

Most palms are lower-maintenance than their dramatic appearance suggests, but a few care principles apply broadly.

Palms need full sun in most cases. Even shade-tolerant species like the kentia perform better with more light. Newly planted palms benefit from consistent watering in their first two growing seasons. Once established, most species are drought-tolerant.

Fertilisation matters more for palms than for most trees. Palms are prone to specific nutritional deficiencies — potassium, magnesium, manganese, and boron — that manifest as discoloured, dying, or deformed fronds. Use a palm-specific slow-release fertiliser three to four times per year in the growing season.

Never cut a palm’s growing tip. Unlike most trees, a palm has only one growing point at the top of the trunk. Damaging or removing it kills the tree. Remove dead fronds at the base when they have fully browned, but leave any fronds that still show green — they are still photosynthesising and supporting the tree.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest-growing palm tree? 

The royal palm, queen palm, and Mexican fan palm are among the fastest-growing palm species, each capable of adding 1 to 2 metres (3 to 6 feet) of growth per year in ideal conditions.

What is the most cold-hardy palm? 

The windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) and the Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis) are among the most cold-tolerant ornamental palms, surviving temperatures as low as -12°C to -15°C in sheltered positions.

Are palm trees difficult to grow? 

Most palm trees are low-maintenance once established. The main challenges are matching the species to the climate, providing well-drained soil, and maintaining appropriate nutrition through palm-specific fertilisers.

How long do palm trees live? 

Palm lifespans vary enormously by species. Many common ornamental palms live for 70 to 100 years or more. The Chilean wine palm is believed to live for several hundred years. Monocarpic species like individual stems of the fishtail palm are shorter-lived.

Is the sago palm safe to keep around pets? 

No. The sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is highly toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. All parts of the plant are dangerous, and the seeds are particularly so. It should not be planted in gardens where pets or children have free access.

Final Thoughts

Palm trees are extraordinary plants. They have fed civilisations, shaped landscapes, inspired artists, and endured in some of the harshest environments on Earth. From the domesticated elegance of the kentia palm in a Victorian drawing room to the wild, windswept silhouette of a California fan palm in a desert oasis, each species carries its own story and its own particular grace.

The twenty species in this guide represent a genuine cross-section of the palm family — in size, habit, climate adaptation, and purpose. Whether your interest is scientific, horticultural, or simply aesthetic, there is something within this group that will repay closer attention.

Find the one that suits your climate and your garden. Give it the sun, drainage, and nutrition it needs. Then step back and let it grow. A well-placed palm tree is one of the most enduring and rewarding additions a garden can have.

References

1. University of Florida IFAS Extension — Palm Tree Culture in Florida. Comprehensive horticultural reference covering palm species selection, planting, fertilisation, pest management, and nutritional disorder diagnosis for home and commercial landscapes in Florida and the southeastern United States. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP261
   
2. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources — Palms for California Landscapes. Research-based guide to palm species adapted to California’s diverse climates, covering cold hardiness, drought tolerance, soil requirements, and ornamental characteristics for residential and commercial use. https://ucanr.edu/sites/forestry/California_forests/Tree_species/
   
3. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Palm Trees for Texas Landscapes. Practical guidance on selecting and cultivating palm species suited to Texas climates, including cold-tolerant varieties, watering and fertilisation recommendations, and common pest and disease issues. https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/solutions/palm-trees/
   
4. North Carolina State University Extension — Arecaceae Palm Family Species Profiles. Detailed botanical and horticultural species profiles for palm genera commonly cultivated in the southeastern and warm temperate United States, including taxonomy, growth characteristics, and landscape use guidance. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/arecaceae/
   
5. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute — Palm Biology and Ecology. Authoritative scientific resource on palm tree biology, ecology, evolutionary diversity, and conservation, drawing on research conducted across tropical and subtropical palm habitats worldwide. https://stri.si.edu/english/research/plants