Interesting Facts about palm trees

We've got some of the most curious & interesting facts about palm trees. Since they're definitely interesting plants.

We bring more fascinating facts to you all the time. Plus fun facts about palm trees. We can answer your questions about palm trees. Do you ever get dreamy about palm trees, because of your spirited interest?!

When I first started learning more about palms, I was so surprised about some of the palm facts I learned.

What's Coming Up for Interesting Facts About Palm Trees

Start With These Interesting Facts About Palms

See these eye-opening truths about palm trees:

• Most palms are only suited for the tropics, or in subtropical climates. Yet some do grow elsewhere, In Surprising Places!
• Almost all palm trees do not grow branches off the main trunk. What looks like branches on the palms you've seen are actually stems of their fronds (leaves).

These stems growing off this palm trunk aren't branches.
They're an Entire Palm leaf, with their rachis & leaflets.

What is a Monocot? The Palm is One!

YES, PALMS ARE MONOCOTS

• Think of the term mono, meaning "one" & cot, short for cotyledon.
• The term monocot is the short, commonly used form for monocotyledon.
• What makes it a monocot? It's that inside a seed is only one starter (embryonic) seed leaf. Which sprouts up a single leafed stem.

BECAUSE IT'S A MONOCOT...

• Their flowers have three parts - or multiples of three. For example, six, nine or twelve.
• Its first sprouting single leaf, after beginning germination, is called a cotyledon.
• Its Method For Getting Nutrients from the ground is totally different. Not at all like the other plant forms, called Dicots.

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Some Plants Are Mistaken for Palms

Pony Tail Palm

The Pony Tail Palm, no matter its name, is not a palm at all!

This is the common name given to Beaucarnea recurvata. Which is actually a succulent, an agave.

Cycads

Cycads aren't palm trees! How is that?

• For instance the Sago Palm. You'd think with that name, it would be in the Palm Family.
• Palms are angiosperms, which means flowering plants.
• But cycads are gymnosperms. Which don't flower. Instead they directly produce cones that contain seeds.

The interesting Sago Palm that's not a palm! Growing in Japan

What About Aloes or Yuccas?

Aloes & yuccas can also resemble palms. But they aren't.

The Tree Aloe and the Giant Palm Lilly are two examples.

Notice the branching on these Tree Aloes. Which is extremely rare for palms.

Palms Have Several Looks or Forms

PALMS HAVE VARIED APPEARANCES

• People typically think of palm trees as having a straight tall trunk (called a solitary trunk). Which have a mass of palm fronds circling the top. 
• Even palms that usually look that way will sometimes also grow other ways! 

Palms With Solitary Trunks

Clustering Palm Trunks

Palm trees can grow in a shrub-like manner. This means some palm species could be used to form a hedge.

Instead of one trunk (stem), they grow many stems - all adjacent to each other.
They're referred to as having a clustering or style of growth.

Arenga undulatifolia, called the Sugar Palm.
Because sweet juice comes from its clumping trunks.
But Watch Out! It's poisonous fruit irritates skin.

Climbing Vine Palms

To the surprise of many, some palms are vine-like.

They've developed methods for climbing upwards in a forest or jungle canopy. They use nearby plants to help them climb!

Calamus rotang is a Climbing Rattan Palm

How are Palm Trunks Different From Other Trees?

Trunks of palm trees are different from woody trees.

Once A Palm Has Grown its start-up trunk height & width, it won't expand its girth any further.

• As oaks, maples and others do, by yearly growth ring expansion. Growing new, thickening wood around the trunk. Palms don't have growth rings.
• The only way they can get slightly thicker by bulging in spots, is by expansion of their cells. For instance retaining more water into cells in rainy times.
• On the other hand, palm trunks can narrow by shrinking their cells. Usually in response to stress, like drought circumstances, etc.

Odd, Interesting Facts About Palms

Here's even more - check out these details about palms.

• Modern biology taxonomists have updated the scientific name of many palms. That way there is improved organization. To better represent the various palm tribes, subtribes & subfamilies. Also to include newly discovered Rare Palm Trees.
• An excellent Palm Landscaping Tip is to plant the same species in groups of three. But when choosing them, be sure they're different heights/ages at planting time. 

1. Otherwise as they grow, their crown tops will argue for space with each other!

When Pruning Palm Trees

Pruning fronds is often overdone. It's painful to look at when you know why it's not good!

Some think palms need the same trimming treatment as oaks, deciduous bushes or vines. Or correct because they're pruned that way by garden maintenance contractors. NOT SO.

Overdone Pruning makes palm crowns look like "fountain spouts" or "feather dusters." That type of aggressive pruning half-starves a palm. Robbing it of leaf photosynthesis for proper feeding.

And to note - some palms don't need pruning anyway. They do their own housekeeping, by Dropping off Dead Fronds.

Yikes! This poor palm looks very hungry!

Takeaways for Interesting Facts About Palm Trees

We hope you've enjoyed these interesting facts about palm trees.

Here's a bonus Fact! Because some people wonder about a Coconut Tree vs. Palm Tree. Are they different?

• The simple answer is NO. A Coconut Tree is a species of palm tree.

Have any questions about these facts? You can Give Us Feedback & Ask! We'd love to hear from you.

There are definitely many, many interesting palm tree facts to mull over! For instance, why & how are there Sideways Palm Trees? Or how about Checking Out Our Fun Facts>