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Palm trees, scientifically known as Arecaceae or Palmae, are trees belonging to a family of monocot flowering plants. There are approximately 2,600 different species of palm trees, the majority of which are native to tropical or subtropical climates. Some well-known trees that belong to this group include coconut trees, rattan trees, and date palm trees.
Uses of palm trees
Palm trees have many uses. Palm tree sap is sometimes fermented in order to produce palm wine, or palm toddy. To make palm wine from the sap of palm trees, the sap is first collected by cutting between the tree kernels. A container is placed below the cut to collect the sap, a process that takes one or two days. The sap begins fermenting immediately and creates a wine within two hours. If the palm sap is allowed to sit too long, however, it turns into vinegar.
Heart of palm is also derived from several species of palm trees. Heart of palm is also referred to as swamp cabbage, palm heart, or palmito. Heart of palm is a vegetable harvested from palm trees. Because the vegetable is taken from the inner core of the palm trees, however, it kills the tree when it is harvested. Therefore, it is quite costly and salads in which it is added are often referred to as “millionaire salad.”
In addition, oil palms belonging to the genus Elaeis are used to produce palm oil. This form of vegetable oil is obtained from the palm tree's fruit. The edible form of palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit. This is what is generally referred to as “palm oil” or “edible oil.” This oil is generally reddish in color and contains high levels of carotenoids. It is most often used in margarine or in cooking oil.
“Palm kernel oil” is derived from the kernel of palm trees. This oil is not edible, but is used mostly to make soap. Palm kernel oil contains olefins and lauric acid. Both forms of palm oil also contain a large amount of tocotrienol, which is part of the Vitamin E family.
Palm trees in the United States
Very few palm trees are capable of tolerating severe cold. The hardiest palm trees include the Trachycarpus, which is native to eastern Asia, and the Rhapidophyllum, which is from southwestern United States.
Other palm trees are native to warmer climates in the United States, such as California, Florida, and southern California where a tropical climate is prevalent. Other states with Mediterranean climates, such as the Gulf coast states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and southern Georgia also are home to native palm trees. Some desert states, such as Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah are also home to some species of palm trees.
In addition, the Atlantic coast of South Carolina contains numerous palm trees, earning the state the nickname of “Palmetto State.”
Palm trees have also been known to grow as far north as Arkansas and Maryland in the United States, as well as along the Pacific Coast to Washington and Oregon. Some species of palm trees have also been successfully transplanted to states as far north as New Jersey.
Commercially, the Phoenix genus of palm trees is broad and very desirable for use in landscape situations of the south, and to decorate offices. Huge specimens of the Canary Island Date Palm, Phoenix canariensis, show considerable cold hardy qualities in northern parts of southern states such as zone 7. Phoenix sylvestris can also be used as landscape specimen for landscapers who look for slender trunks. The Medjool date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, can be planted as a fruit tree to produce delicious dates, or it can be planted as a tropical landscape specimen. The size of the dwarf pygmy date palm tree is in great contrast to the giant Canary Island date palm tree. The pygmy date palm tree, Phoenix roebellenii, is a very popular container choice for outdoor display that can be moved indoors during cold weather.
Canary Island Date Palm – Phoenix canariensis
Leaves 20 feet long growing on 50 foot massive trunks make the Canary Island Date Palm, Phoenix canariensis, a highly desirable palm tree for a tropical look around entrances to patios or pools. The Canary Island date palm has been considered fairly cold hardy in lower southern states and specimens of large trees have survived in winters as far north as Columbia, South Carolina. The trunk of the Canary Island date palm is huge in diameter and the triangular cuts on the palm leaves are considered to be highly decorative. The resort of Sea Island, Georgia is loaded with large palm tree specimens of the Canary Island date palm, and none of these trees have ever been damaged from snow or cold since 1927. The Phoenix palm, Phoenix canariensis, is not fast growing, thus this particular palm tree is very expensive; however, the Phoenix canary palm is easily transplanted and easy to grow. In Florida, long lines of the Canary Island palm trees are planted on the boundries of boulevards. The Canary Island palm tree was the best survivor of hurricanes that hit Florida in the year 2004 because of its massive size and extensive root spread.
Medjool Date Palm – Phoenix dactylifera
In ancient history, this famous Medjool date palm fed the many areas of the Mideast. A food, the dried date, was easily preserved to sustain travelers who promoted caravan trade throughout the East and Western civilizations. Like grain, olives, raisins, and wine, these commodities, along with dates, flourished in stable empires of the past with properity that overflowed abundantly. The Hebrew Scriptures repeatedly mentioned the Medjool date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, as God's gift to the chosen people, the Jews. Groves of the Medjool date palm trees still grow in the ancient lands of the Israelites, and newer groves have been established and grow productively in the Western United States, where dates are harvested yearly for gourmets to buy at markets. The Medjool date palm trees grow into enormous specimen trees with time and are choice landscape trees at vacation resorts for that tropical look. The Medjool date palm tree is cold hardy in most southern areas of the United States in zones 7-11.
Pygmy Date Palm Tree - Phoenix roebellenii
Although the Pygmy Date palm tree, Phoenix roebellenii does not show the same cold hardy characteristics as the other Phoenix palm trees, it is a very popular landscape plant. It can be used for outside use but is best when planted in containers to be moved inside during winter or to be grown inside in offices year round. The dwarf nature of the Pygmy Date palm, Phoenix roebellenii, makes it easy to grow and manage with minimum care. The Dwarf Pygmy Date palm tree is armed with sharp spines that are often clipped off in office situations. The tropical look of the Pygmy Date palm leaves is a valuable characteristic for the nursery tree buyer, who shops for tropical office trees that require a minimum of care.
Sylvester Palm Tree - Phoenix sylvestris
The feather-like leaves of Phoenix palm trees are all similar, however, the thin, slender trunk of the Sylvester palm tree, Phoenix sylvestris, sets it apart from the massive thick trunk of the Canary Island palm tree, Phoenix canariensis. The Sylvester palm tree, Phoenix sylvestris, is a choice specimen tree with it's towering trunk topped and a spreading canopy of ten foot leaves. Phoenix sylvestris transplants well in small or large tree plantings, and the seeds easily sprout to form new palm trees. The Phoenix sylvestris palm tree exhibits the same cold hardy survival characteristics as the Canary Island palm tree, Phoenix canariensis, growing undamaged in Zones 7-11.