U.S.A. Most Symbolic East and West Coast Palms

[PalmTreeDude]

If the east and west coast U.S.A. had to have one Palm to symbolize the coasts I think the West coasts palm would be the Washintonia Filifera (Not the Robusta because it is not a native) and the east coasts Palm would be the Sabal Palmetto. It seems right. What do you think?

 

 

V Sabal Palmetto with native range. V

 

 

 

 

V Washintonia Filifera with native range V

 

Edited June 4, 2016 by PalmTreeDude
Adding Pictures

[RedRabbit]

West = Washingtonia robusta... Who cares if it isn't native? 

East would be a sabal palmetto I guess. South Florida would be Roystonea regia. They're all over the place there, but I guess it's range isn't large enough to really say it is symbolic of the east coast.

[Cape Garrett]

17 minutes ago, RedRabbit said:

West = Washingtonia robusta... Who cares if it isn't native? 

East would be a sabal palmetto I guess. South Florida would be Roystonea regia. They're all over the place there, but I guess it's range isn't large enough to really say it is symbolic of the east coast.

Agree

[Xenon]

South Texas is also the land of Washingtonia robusta...they define the coast from Corpus Christi southwards and also the Rio Grande Valley

even in Houston which is more influenced by the traditional "southern garden" (live oaks, crepe myrtles, magnolias etc.), Washingtonia robusta (and hybrids) easily outnumbers every other palm species

[BS Man about Palms]

Are you asking of which are most endemic to the area or which side seems to have an easier time growing than the other side? If that's the case I would nominate the Kentia or the Jubea for the west..

[topwater]

13 hours ago, Xenon said:

South Texas is also the land of Washingtonia robusta...they define the coast from Corpus Christi southwards and also the Rio Grande Valley

even in Houston which is more influenced by the traditional "southern garden" (live oaks, crepe myrtles, magnolias etc.), Washingtonia robusta (and hybrids) easily outnumbers every other palm species

And don't forget good old Sabal texana. 

[Ed in Houston]

For natives,Sabal minor is representative for several SE states.

 

Here is my Sabal minor variation Louisiana, 15years old and 8 feet tall. It needs no supplemental water in Houston .

Ed in Houston

 

[PalmatierMeg]

I'd still go with Sabal palmetto for the east because S. minor isn't seen much down here unless planted (like mine). For the West Coast, i.e., Cali I go with Beverly Hills' finest: W. robusta. How much more iconic can you get?

[PalmTreeDude]

3 hours ago, Ed in Houston said:

For natives,Sabal minor is representative for several SE states.

 

Here is my Sabal minor variation Louisiana, 15years old and 8 feet tall. It needs no supplemental water in Houston .

Ed in Houston

 

There where some wild Sabal Minor found growing in the southern areas of VA Beach and in the Virginia portion of the Great Dismal Swamp, but there are few native zone maps that include these areas. They are very cool palms!

[Janet B]

I would perhaps also suggest the Phoenix canariensis for west coast. The padres brought these palms to California in the late 1700's. From what I'm learning the Washingtonia filifera didn't make it up to Northern California until later, about 1857. Check out Pacific Rural Press, Volume 34, Number 25, 17 December 1887. http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=PRP18871217.2.3&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-------

Hope that link works.

[Yunder Wækraus]

On 6/5/2016, 6:03:00, PalmTreeDude said:

There where some wild Sabal Minor found growing in the southern areas of VA Beach and in the Virginia portion of the Great Dismal Swamp, but there are few native zone maps that include these areas. They are very cool palms!

 what does the yellow corner in the map in Oklahoma mean

[DoomsDave]

Washies for the west. California was part of Mexico, and it's right next door.

Or, even better, the Washie Mutt. They are everywhere. Home and loved and reviled and trimmed and . . .

 

For the east? How about the Coconut for Florida. If it has to be native, or near-so, then Sabal minor, or texanum or palmetto . . . .

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

5 hours ago, Yunder Wækraus said:

 what does the yellow corner in the map in Oklahoma mean

They are native to McCurtain County Oklahoma.  That provenance (and those from adjoining Arkansas, probably) have been grown successfully in Wichita KS, and Kansas City, MO where it even flowers and fruits!!!  It may be the cold hardiest provenance of S. minor.  

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

On June 4, 2016 at 7:33:45 PM, PalmTreeDude said:

If the east and west coast U.S.A. had to have one Palm to symbolize the coasts I think the West coasts palm would be the Washintonia Filifera (Not the Robusta because it is not a native) and the east coasts Palm would be the Sabal Palmetto. It seems right. What do you think?

 

 

V Sabal Palmetto with native range. V

 

 

 

 

V Washintonia Filifera with native range V

 

I would choose S. palmetto too, but I'd choose W. robusta for the west coast.  I understand they aren't native to CA (Norte California, that is), but their sheer numbers in California are overwhelming so they get my vote.  It doesn't hurt that they grow over 100' tall either.  Sheesh, when I first saw them I wondered how they stood up.  Still do.  

[Palmaceae]

What about Serenoa repens for the east coast, both the green and silver variety?

[PalmatierMeg]

4 hours ago, Palmaceae said:

What about Serenoa repens for the east coast, both the green and silver variety?

Good thought. But most people are accustomed to looking up at trunking palms. When I first went to FL in 1985 I asked our bus driver, "What are those palmlike plants growing along the side of the road?" He snorted and told me they were saw palmettos and should be hacked up wherever they grew. That was how Serenoa were looked down upon back then - same sentiments were directed at mangroves. Now both are considered treasured natives worthy of protection. Fort Myers & Cape Coral even plant them in road medians. But visitors & locals still overlook Serenoa to a huge extent.

[PalmatierMeg]

Coconuts are typical of just a small part of SFL but not the whole SE US.

[DoomsDave]

9 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Coconuts are typical of just a small part of SFL but not the whole SE US.

There's palms of physical space

then, there's palms of consciousness . . .

[RedRabbit]

DD brings up a good point, coconut palms may be the most symbolic palm of Florida despite not being the most common palm and having a small range relative to the sable palmetto.

[PalmatierMeg]

11 hours ago, RedRabbit said:

DD brings up a good point, coconut palms may be the most symbolic palm of Florida despite not being the most common palm and having a small range relative to the sable palmetto.

I would agree with that, esp for people who never came here. I thought that way once too. But FL is not the whole of SE US.