Finding a guide to palm trees is pretty easy. The thing is, will it meet your needs? When you're looking for a palm tree guide, what is it you need help with? There are multiple ways a palm guide could help you out.
Here we're rating A Few Guides to Palm Trees. Because we've used quite a number of them over the years! We figure we can give you our own critique - our reviews for deciding on the Palm Tree Guide that will give you what you want.
The first we'll check out for you is one we use when we travel throughout the southeastern United States. That's next...
Here's a simple guide to use that covers palm trees that are found in the Southeastern part of the United States.
We have this one, and use it from time to time. Especially when we travel to visit our cousin in North Carolina, we always take it along!
Because when you know where to look, you can Find Palm Trees in North Carolina!
When we leave North Carolina, we normally take the Southern route back to Arizona. As we take a more northerly course to get there. It's because we like to cover various areas, taking a route for palm tree areas. So we plan Palm Tree Viewing Road Trips!
We find this particular little Guide to Palm Trees very handy when we do this. Traveling the southeastern coast of the United States.
We wanted to give you an idea of how it solved some problems with palm tree identification. We think that overall it does a very good job for getting used to the most common palms you'll find in these states. So you'll recognize them.
Below see our review of Common Palms of the Southeast. To size up its usefulness as a guide to palm trees in the southeastern United States.
FTC Disclosure: If you purchase via a link/ ad on this site, we may earn a small royalty. There's no added cost to you. Thanks much for any looks/ orders! Details>
HELPFULNESS
DRAWBACKS
FROM OUR GUIDE TO PALM TREES PURCHASES
We have several other Guides to Palm Trees that we use regularly. Because we find them the best. We've purchased some that are very to not very good.
Usually when we look for Palm Tree Related Books, we do this:
There are other places to go, of course.
Sometimes you'll find free books to download from Google Books. And there are many more that say "Free."
Palm Tips, Exclusives, (+ Freebies!) Fun & More, monthly at: LIFE AMID THE PALMS
The drawback to some of them is:
We'll give you Reviews of our favorites. The Guide to Palm Trees we use most often, those we like and can recommend, and one that's not among the best.
By Robert Lee Riffle. Our copy is from 2008. Note: the author passed away in 2006.
We use this guide regularly.
What's really nice are his category lists. Palm species:
Etc. It's compact for all the info it has. It's Our Go-To Book for finding initial info on an unfamiliar palm. We'd recommend this as 1st choice for a palm guide.
By Timothy K. Borschat & Alan W. Meerow (well-known palm tree experts). Along with Monica L. Elliott (she's an expert in Plant Diseases).
We have the 2nd edition from 2017. We had the 1st edition from 2000, found it so useful, we got the updated one.
It guides you in knowing the biology & Anatomy of Palms. But also helps if you want to Grow a Palm Yourself, plus Palm Plant Care - including Potted Palms for Indoors.
This book is quite useful to us. The newer edition adds updated science & even more photos. Be aware there is a lot of technical info & jargon. They give explanations, but sometimes it requires bouncing around.
It has a wealth of information, including the miscellaneous things that can attack a palm. Anything you can think of about for Ornamental Palm Knowledge! It's excellent if it suits your needs.
By Robert Lee Riffle & Paul Craft, 2012: 2nd Edition. We have The 1st Edition. from 2003. We see in the newer edition, there are less species, but the same amount of pictures.
This large reference is useful for discovering even more details on the more familiar palms. But then has many others you may see named somewhere, but have no clue about - until you look it up here!
First it's a summary of each genus (alphabetically), including the number of species. However it doesn't necessary list all the species.
Typically though, most anything you want to look up will be here. With the usual details, plus loads more you won't find elsewhere.
It does have photos of each, but they're gathered together in a separate section in front. (Some people don't like that - it doesn't bother us!) Easy-peasy to get to the ones you want to see.
For us, we find it very useful. If you're seriously into studying palms, you may also. Palm browsers, those trying to identify palms, & beginning palm enthusiasts may not find it suited for their purposes.
PALMS
By Martin Gibbons.
Subtitled "The new Compact Study Guide and Identifier." From 1993.
Fairly old, which may account for some of our dissatisfaction(?). And you can pick it up used quite cheaply!
The author began a UK business (where he's well-known), that still today sells palms. Now run by his son, I believe.
The book's intro says he hopes it will be "not only a useful guide, but a means of adding to the enjoyment on any vacation or business trip to the tropics." That may be the positive point for a purchase.
But he also says it can be useful for growing palms. So the drawbacks:
If you have a choice of books, we don't recommend this one. We bought it. Now it sits on our bookshelf. We rarely open it since our first evaluation.
We hope some of these books that we think are good will help you out. They all have some type of guidance for learning about palms. Plus even as a guide to palm tree identification.
We've shown you our take on the value you'll have by ordering one of these Guides to Palm Trees.
Happy Palm Trails!