Washingtonia filifera aka California Fan Palm

Washingtonia filifera, also known as the desert fan palm, California fan palm, or California palm, is a medium to large flowering plant in the palm family Arecaceae. Native to the far southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico, it is well-adapted to subtropical climates. This evergreen monocot exhibits a tree-like growth habit, reaching heights of 15-20 meters and spreading 3-6 meters wide. The robust trunk of the Washingtonia filifera is sturdy and columnar, surrounded by long leaf stalks with sharp teeth near the base. Its fan-shaped, grey-green blades can grow up to 3 meters long, initially erect before spreading and arching. The plant retains dead foliage, creating a decorative covering that hangs down the entire trunk. In summer, Washingtonia filifera produces creamy-white, tubular flowers in massive sprays up to 5 meters long. The California fan palm is highly valued as an ornamental tree and is widely cultivated. Its massive, barrel-shaped gray trunk can reach over 3 feet in diameter at its widest point, adorned with old leaf scars. With a crown spread of 15 feet, this palm can grow up to 60 feet tall. Each individual California fan palm can have up to thirty palmate leaves, ranging from 3 to 6 feet across, in a gray-green color. It is the only palm native to the Western United States and is among the largest native palms in the country, surpassed in height only by the Cuban or Florida royal palm. The sweet fruit pulp of the fan palm is also edible. Washingtonia filifera typically has a lifespan of 80 to 250 years or more.