Look closely at the leaf formation when choosing a palm. Most are either fan-shaped (palmate) or feather-shaped (pinnate), which create different effects depending on wind conditions and lighting. Here, we present our favorite pinnates. Also known as: Bismark palm, bismarckia palm, nobilis palm Frond Type: Pinnate How to ID it: You can’t miss a Bismarck, with its straight trunk, impressive crown, and silver-blue-green fronds. It produces small, beautiful, fragrant flowers that turn into inedible blue fruits. Landscape uses: Unlike other landscape palms, Bismarck is drought tolerant, fairly disease resistant, and does not have as many nutritional deficiencies as other landscape palm species. While large and bulky, it makes a stunning showpiece tree for larger home landscapes. This palm tolerates intense heat, growing fastest in warmer climates. It also grows well along the coast. Height: Up to 50 feet Native to: Madagascar Frond type: Pinnate How to ID it: The trunk of a bottle palm is rounded and swollen at the bottom and shaped like a bottle (hence, the name). Landscape uses: These palms look great with the lower trunk exposed in a container. They can be incorporated into tropical and drought-tolerant gardens. Often confused with a ponytail palm, which is not really a palm tree but has a similar-shaped trunk. Height: 10 to 12 feet Native to: The Mascarene Islands, which are in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. Also known as: Pineapple palm Frond type: Pinnate. How to ID it: This palm has a thick trunk and dense, arching fronds. Leaves are 13 to 20 feet long with 80 to 100 leaflets on each side. Fruit is yellow-orange and oval, with one seed. Landscape uses: A favorite among many palm tree fans, the Canary Island palm form makes a bold statement in the tropical landscape or indoors. Single, massive palms are often found in front yards of old homes in Southern California and are prized for their spectacular and iconic forms. Height: About 13 to 20 feet Native to: Canary Islands Also known as: Jubaea or Chile cocopalm Frond type: Pinnate How to ID it: This palm has a very thick trunk, up to 6 feet wide or more and its purple flowers that become small orange fruits, called coquitos. Landscape uses: It makes a nice focal point in a garden. Height: A slow grower, it can eventually reach 82 feet. Native to: Coastal Chile Also known as: Manila palm, adonidia, dwarf royal Frond type: Pinnate How to ID it: This palm has a slender gray-green stem or trunk. Where the crownshaft attaches to the trunk emerge 2-foot flower stalks (inflorescences), which support small gray-green flowers. In the fall, these flowers are replaced by small 1-inch green fruits. They ripen in late autumn, and toward the end of December have turned a bright red, like balls on a tropical Christmas tree. Landscape uses: Its rather small size (for a palm tree) makes it ideal for use near patios, in courtyards, atriums, and other small-scale gardens. Height: 16 feet Native to: The Philippines. Will grow in USDA Zones 10 to 12 Also known as: Pindo palm Frond type: Pinnate How to ID it: Some have old leaf stalks, while others have clean trunks. Fronds are light green to bluish gray and can grow up to 10 feet. Leaf stems are 2 to 4 feet long and have spines along their edges. They produce bright orange fruit. The palm produces bright orange fruit. Light and soil can affect the growth and appearance of this species. Landscape uses: Jellies are popular landscape trees in Florida, in the Gulf and Atlantic coastal regions of the southeastern United States, California and other warm climates that experience occasional frosts. Height: 12 to 15 feet tall Native to: South America, especially Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay Also known as: Robellini palm, miniature date palm, dwarf date palm Frond type: Pinnate How to ID it: Smaller, with full, feathery fronds, on single or multiple trunks. The slender trunk is covered with old leaf bases, which gives it a rough texture. Fronds grow upright or curve, are shiny and feathery and measure about 4 feet long. Clusters of cream-colored flowers are hidden by the foliage and produce small black dates that ripen to a deep red. Warning: Pygmy date palm has needle-like spines located at the base of the leaf stem. Like cacti or any plant with sharp spines, these can penetrate skin and clothing, which could result in an infection. Consult a doctor if this occurs. Landscape uses: Popular for residential landscaping in front and back yards, near pools and in a tropical or drought-tolerant garden. Robellinis look good clustered together. It also can be grown in a container on a patio, deck, or indoors. Not very cold tolerant; grows in USDA zones 9-10. Height: A slow grower, reaching 6 to 12 feet. Native to: Tropical forests of Southeast Asia, especially Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). Also known as: Japanese sago palm, sago cycad, king sago Frond type: While not a true palm, for classification, it will be considered a pinnate. How to ID it: Rather short in stature for a palm-like tree, the sago palm is a prehistoric-looking plant that’s a member of an ancient group known as cycads. Its leaves are stiff and resemble palm fronds or fern leaves. Landscape uses: Sago palms do well in large containers on patios or decks. A smart choice for drought-tolerant regions is an ancient group of plants called cycads. Its stiff leaves resemble those of palm or the fronds, sagos look good in front yard landscaping because they don’t grow too tall. Since its leaves are so stiff, it’s a good idea to keep it away from paths or areas where people will come in close contact, as it can be sharp to the touch. Grows in USDA zone 8-1. Height: About 8 to 20 feet Native to: Southern Japan, including the Ryukyu Islands
