Help ID a Fan Palm that sprouted in my garden which I didn't plant

[dahdah]

Apologies, but I'm not a Palm (or garden) expert by any means.  Does any one know what kind of Palm tree this is?  My wife and I never planted any palm tree, but one recently sprouted up in our plant garden!  I don't mind keeping it around, but my main concern is the proximity to my house.  It is probably 4ft away from the wall.

If it's less than ideal distance from the wall, would it be easy to relocate it some where else? 

I am in the Bay Area in California if it helps with identification.   Thanks, much appreciated!

[Silas_Sancona]

5 minutes ago, dahdah said:

Apologies, but I'm not a Palm (or garden) expert by any means.  Does any one know what kind of Palm tree this is?  My wife and I never planted any palm tree, but one recently sprouted up in our plant garden!  I don't mind keeping it around, but my main concern is the proximity to my house.  It is probably 4ft away from the wall.

If it's less than ideal distance from the wall, would it be easy to relocate it some where else? 

I am in the Bay Area in California if it helps with identification.   Thanks, much appreciated!

Washingtonia ..likely robusta ..Mexican Fan Palm. Used to pop up in my grandparents yard in Almaden ( Grew up in San Jose )

[Leelanau Palms]

Welcome. Appears to be a washingtonia, which grows easily and rapidly. Sounds like its too close to the wall, at least until it grows taller than the wall. It could be carefully moved, but could be expected to experience a period of shock in the process.  I'm sure other will clarify futher.

[Silas_Sancona]

Just now, Silas_Sancona said:

Washingtonia ..likely robusta ..Mexican Fan Palm. Used to pop up in my grandparents yard in Almaden ( Grew up in San Jose )

As tall as they can get, 4ft from the house is a tad too close, imo...  Can be transplanted w/ relative ease at this size if you're careful to dig up a good rootball.

[Darold Petty]

Dahdah,  Welcome to Palmtalk !  

I would consider this palm to be an unwanted weed, and I recommend that you remove and discard it into the compost bin.  Washingtonia is very fast growing for a palm, and the older fronds do not fall off cleanly.  It is cute while young but will be more troublesome and labor intensive the larger it grows.   Once it is so tall that a ladder is required for pruning you will regret its presence.  Here is an image of what it looks like without regular maintenance.

You have a very favorable microclimate, it you like the fan leaf look I would suggest a Brahea palm.  Best wishes,  

[dahdah]

40 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Dahdah,  Welcome to Palmtalk !  

I would consider this palm to be an unwanted weed, and I recommend that you remove and discard it into the compost bin.  Washingtonia is very fast growing for a palm, and the older fronds do not fall off cleanly.  It is cute while young but will be more troublesome and labor intensive the larger it grows.   Once it is so tall that a ladder is required for pruning you will regret its presence.  Here is an image of what it looks like without regular maintenance.

You have a very favorable microclimate, it you like the fan leaf look I would suggest a Brahea palm.  Best wishes,  

Thanks for the quick responses all.  I'm in San Jose, and I've definitely seen many unmaintained Palms with the shaggy look.  It does seem like it will be more of a hassle to keep around if it will require professional trimming.  

I have a relatively small yard, so the initial appeal to me was the "small" footprint of the palm tree if I was to keep it around.

 

[Jim in Los Altos]

I have several in the landscape but only one that’s 4’ from the house (pictured). It’s been there many decades. These palms become self cleaning at some point in their adult lives so trimming is no longer a necessity. I occasionally have to fetch a fallen frond or two off my roof. 
 

[Silas_Sancona]

6 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Dahdah,  Welcome to Palmtalk !  

I would consider this palm to be an unwanted weed, and I recommend that you remove and discard it into the compost bin.  Washingtonia is very fast growing for a palm, and the older fronds do not fall off cleanly.  It is cute while young but will be more troublesome and labor intensive the larger it grows.   Once it is so tall that a ladder is required for pruning you will regret its presence.  Here is an image of what it looks like without regular maintenance.

You have a very favorable microclimate, it you like the fan leaf look I would suggest a Brahea  palm.  Best wishes,  

 

5 hours ago, dahdah said:

Thanks for the quick responses all.  I'm in San Jose, and I've definitely seen many unmaintained Palms with the shaggy look.  It does seem like it will be more of a hassle to keep around if it will require professional trimming.  

I have a relatively small yard, so the initial appeal to me was the "small" footprint of the palm tree if I was to keep it around.

 

Darold has the right idea..  Mex Fans can be nice. ..although a bit over planted up there,  ...and yes,  ..they will require pricey maintenance when taller if you can't trim yourself.    Some specimens will self- shed old dead fronds, but most don't.  Regardless..

Take a look at Brahea edulis / Guadalupe Palm  Similar look ( Actually nicer looking IMO, ) but a touch slower ( but not snail's pace ) growth.  No clawed, saw like teeth on the leafstalks when older,  and these will shed dead fronds a bit easier than Mex. Fans..  Smaller overall foot print and reasonably common / perfectly at home up there.

A neighbor across from my grandparent's had several in a row in the side yard between them and their neighbors. Unfortunately, someone who bought the house in the mid 90s chopped them down.


Anyway.. 

Two other fairly small, and easy to find palm options that could work:  Pygmy Date Palm ( Planted a few up there that are still growing ) and Mediterranean Fan Palm..

Both stay fairly short for sometime. Can be planted as a single specimen, or in clumps.  Great for really tight spaces / really small yards where bigger palms might overwhelm the space.

As a side note:  into growing any Orchids?  ( Yes,  many can be grown outdoors up there )  you can attach some types that grow on tree trunks to the trunks of both types of palms..