Knowing the different types of fan palm trees that are available can help you decide on the species you may want to plant, indoors or outdoors.
Since palm trees are excellent at cleaning the air, they are a great tree to plant where conditions make it possible.
Palm trees are often associated with tropical climates, but some of the over 2500 species can grow in different places.1
While most of them will thrive in hot and moist climates, there are other species that grow in totally different climates. You can even plant types of fan palm tree indoors and see them thrive in the constrained environment of pots.
Learning about the different types of trees can be confusing which makes people wonder, how many trees are in the United States and what state has the most trees?
This comprehensive guide provides identification charts to help you know more about the types of fan palm trees and other species and how to care for them both indoors and outdoors.
What Is a Fan Palm Tree?
A fan palm is a palm tree with a single slender trunk that grows as high as 20m and has leaves that look like fans.2
The leaves of the tree are huge and pleated, forming an almost circular shape and therefore resembling a fan.
Each fan palm tree could have 9-12 palmate lobed leaves. Most of these trees have what looks like a shaggy beard that forms from the old and dried leaves of the plant. Fan palm trees are drought-tolerant and can grow in places where there is little to no water available.
Types of Palm Trees (Palm Tree Identification Chart)
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
1. The Paurotis Palm | Fan | Thin & fibrous | 15 – 20 ft. | Full sun6 |
2. The Miniature Blushing Palm | Pinnate, new red leaf7 | Thin with a crown shaft | 15 – 20 ft. | Filtered light or a bit of sun |
3. The Beach Palm, Sand Palm | Pinnate, short and fluffy | Minimal trunk if any | 6 ft. | Full sun |
4. Alexander Palm | Pinnate | Medium thick, very green crown shaft, gray-brown in color | 50 ft. or over | Full or part day sun |
5. Piccabeen Palm | Pinnate | Gray-colored, faint rings, 12 to 18 inches thick | 40 ft. | Full sun |
6. Mount Lewis Palm Tree | Pinnate | The crown shaft has a purple color | 30 – 40 ft. | Full or part day |
7. Walsh River King Palm | Pinnate | 12-18 inches, medium green crown shaft, self-pruning | 80 ft. | Filtered to full sun |
8. The Myola Palm | Pinnate | Green, sometimes blue-green, very clean crown shaft | 50 – 60 ft. | Part to full sun |
9. The Dwarf Sugar Palm | Pinnate | 6 inch diameter and fibrous | 8 – 12 ft. | Filtered light, partial sun or full sun |
10. The Black Sugar Palm | Pinnate | Thick and fibrous | 30 ft. or more | Full sun |
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
11. High Plateau Coconut Palm | Pinnate | 12 inches thick and smooth, ringed | 40 ft. or taller | Full sun in coastal areas |
12. Madagascar Window Palm | Pinnate | About 12 to 16 inches. Smooth trunk over time | 20 – 30 ft. or taller | Full sun |
13. The Bismarck Palm11 | Fan | 14 -18 inches, smooth over time | 40 ft. or taller | Full sun |
14. The Mexican Blue Fan Palm | Fan, blue | Smooth when matured | 40 ft. but rarely over 20 ft. domestically | Full hot sun |
15. San Jose Hesper Palm | Fan | Thin, about 12 inches or less | 40 – 60 ft., tallest species of genus | Full sun |
16. Mexican Dwarf Blue Fan Palm | Fan, blue | Minimal trunk with rough surface | 6 ft. or a little more | Full sun |
17. The Rock Palm | Fan, blue to green | Rough texture | Variable, shorter forms to 8 ft., taller forms to 20 ft. | Strong filtered light to full sun |
18. The Guadalupe Fan Palm | Fan | Moderately thick trunk, 18 inches | 15 ft., rarely taller – in the wild to over 20 ft. or more | Full sun |
19. The Silver Rock Palm | Fan | Smooth when mature | 15 ft. | Full sun |
20. The Mount Koghi Palm | Pinnate | Thin for height, prominently ringed green trunk with silver-green crown shaft | 20 – 40 ft. | Filtered light or part day sun |
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
21. The Tiger Palm | Pinnate | Thin, green, prominent rings, brown pinstripes | 30 – 40 ft., often piercing the canopy | Filter light to part day sun |
22. The Pindo Palm – Jelly Palm | Pinnate | Rough with retained leaf bases at the top. Diameter-18 inches | 15 ft. or a little taller | Full sun all areas |
23. The Wooly Jelly Palm | Pinnate | Moderately thick and rough | 15 – 20 ft. | Full sun |
24. The Mule Palm | Pinnate | Variable, but about 12-14 inches | 20 – 25 ft. | Full sun |
25. Andean Wax Palm | Pinnate | Thin, 18 inches | Over 100 ft. | Full sun |
26. Costa Rican Bamboo Palm | Pinnate | Green, prominently ringed with diameters of 1-1.5 inches | 14 – 16 ft. | Filtered light or a little morning sun |
27. The Dwarf Whale Tail Palm | Solid, bifid | Thin, ¾ inch | 6 ft. | Filtered light |
28. The Capuca Palm | Bifid | Thin, 1/2 inch | 3 – 6 ft. | Filtered light |
29. The Cold Hardy Bamboo Palm | Pinnate | Thin, 1/2 inch diameter | 8 ft. | Filtered light |
30. The Baby Queen Palm | Pinnate | Green in filtered light, prominent rings, 3/4 to 1 inch thick | 14 ft. | Filtered light or coastal sun |
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
31. The Stolon Palm | Bifid | Thin, 3/8 of an inch, green with visible rings. Orange flower bracts | 6 ft. | Filtered light |
32. The Elfin Palm | Simple, small, bifid | Extremely thin, pencil size | 12 inches | Filtered light |
33. The Pacaya Or Tepejilote Palm | Pinnate | Thick trunk, usually 1.5 inches, but can be bigger | 15 ft. | Filtered light |
34. The Mediterranean Fan Palm | Fan | 8-12 inches thick, rough with old leaf bases and fiber | 10 – 15 ft. | Full hot sun |
35. Moroccan Blue Fan Palm | Fan, blue | Fibrous and rough with retained leaf bases | 8 – 12 ft. | Full sun |
36. The Flame Thrower Palm | Pinnate, new red leaf | 10-12 inches, rings evident | 20 – 30 ft. | Filtered light or morning sun |
37. The Blond Flame Thrower Palm | Pinnate, new red leaf | 10-12 inches thick | 20 – 30 ft. | Part day sun, filtered light |
38. Pacific Beauty Palm | Pinnate | Clean, medium sized trunk with visible rings in filtered light. Green-silver green crown shaft | 30 – 40 ft. | Full sun |
39. The Florida Silver Palm | Fan | Tan colored with woven matting at the top, 4-8 inches thick | 15 – 20 ft. | Full sun |
40. Green Fan Palm | Fan | Thin trunk , 6 inches in diameter. Fibrous matting on the trunk, ages to a woody trunk. | 30 – 40 ft. | Full sun |
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
41. The Old Man Palm | Fan | Long, shaggy brown hairs that look like a long beard. Trunks are 4 -6 inches thick | Six ft. – almost 20 ft. | Full sun |
42. The Miraguama Palm | Fan | The trunk is 4-6 inches thick, patterned fibroid coating | 30 ft. | Full sun |
43. Bailey Fan Palm | Fan | Thick, smooth, light gray to tan, columnar, 18-24 inches, looks like a concrete freeway pillar | 30 ft. | Full hot sun |
44. The Petticoat Palm | Fan | Thin trunk with old dead leaves below the crown. Diameter-8 inches | 30 ft. | Full sun |
45. The Elegant Palm | Pinnate | Thin trunk with green crown shaft | 20 – 25 ft. | Full sun, part day sun |
46. New Caledonian Palm | Upright, pinnate | Thin, green with rings, diameter 6-inches | About 20 ft. or a little more | Part day sun, full sun near the ocean, filtered light inland |
47. Hurricane Palm | Pinnate | About 6-8 inches | 30 ft. | Full sun, part day sun inland |
48. Madagascar Palm (endangered) | Pinnate | Thin trunks that are green to silver green Crown shaft can be white and powdery | 15 – 20 ft. | Full or part sun, less sun in Inland areas |
49. Sugar Can Palm | Pinnate | Thin with prominent rings, 3 to 4 inches thick, white or green crown shafts | 15 – 20 ft. | Part day sun, filtered light |
50. The Cabadae Palm | Pinnate | Thin, 4 inches or more | 15 – 20 ft. | Full or part day sun. |
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
51. The Triangle Palm | Pinnate | Thickness- 12 inches, variable color in a triangular crown shaft, purple, brown, gray | 20 ft. | Full sun |
52. The Manambe Palm | Pinnate | Cigar shaped, white to green crown shaft | 30 – 35 ft. | Full sun except when juvenile8 |
53. The Teddy Bear Palm | Pinnate | Trunk diameter is 8 -12 inches, distinctively ringed, commonly silver in color, with a rusting brown furry crown shaft underneath the leaves. | 20 – 25 ft. | Full or part sun, less sun inland |
54. The Areca or Butterfly Palm | Pinnate, lanceolate-shaped leaflets3 | Thin, 2-3 inches, ringed, slick, green, silver, or often hues of yellow | 15 – 20 ft., taller in the tropics | Full sun, far inland, limited sun or screened light |
55. The Pemba Palm | Pinnate | Trunk thickness, 4 inches, silver-green with prominent rings | 20 – 25 ft. | Full sun or part day sun |
56. The Assai Palm | Pinnate | Thin trunk, 4 inches in diameter with green elongated crown shaft | 25 ft. or taller | Filtered light when younger, coastal sun later |
57. The Umbrella Palm | Pinnate | 6-8 inches thick, silver-green in shade with a white crown shaft | 25 ft. | Full or part day sun |
58. The Belmore Palm | Pinnate | Smooth trunk, no crown shaft, Diameter 6-8 inches | 15 ft. | Full or part sun, inland les sun |
59. The Kentia Palm | Pinnate | Thin, 6 to 8 inches, thinner than a King or Queen Palm, no crown shaft | 35 – 40 ft. | Full or part sun along the coast |
60. The Bottle Palm | Pinnate, feather-like | Thickest at the bottom, 2-3 ft. | 15 ft. | Full sun |
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
61. The Spindle Palm | Pinnate | Swollen in the middle, cigar shape | 15 – 20 ft. in decades | Full sun |
62. The Chilean Wine Palm | Pinnate | Massive smooth trunk, up to 4 ft in diameter | Up to 50 ft. | Full sun required |
63. Great Hybrid Palm | Pinnate | Thick, wide, 30-36 inch diameter, not smooth | 40 ft. | Full sun mandatory |
64. The Pondoland Palm | Pinnate | Fibrous and rough, two trunks | 25 – 35 ft. | Full sun |
65. New Caledonian Palm | Pinnate | 10 inches thick, smooth with prominent rings and a dark green crown shaft. | 30 ft. | Full or part day sun, less far inland |
66. The Atherton Palm | Pinnate | Suckers, has multiple trunks | 15 ft. or a bit more | Full sun right or part sun, less sun inland |
67. The Walking Stick Palm | Pinnate | Thin and fibrous. Size of a walking stick. | 8 – 10 ft. | Filtered light |
68. Queensland Fan Palm | Fan | Fibrous trunk | 30 ft. or taller | Filtered light, protect from direct sun inland |
69. Mangrove Fan Palm | Fan | Thin and rough with fibers | 10 – 15 ft. | Filtered light |
70. The Cabbage Tree Palm | Fan | Thin for height, 12 inches. Clean but a bit rough to touch | Over 50 ft. | Full sun |
Type | Leaves | Trunk | Height | Sun Requirements |
71. Chinese Fan Palm | Fan | 12 inches thick, smooth below any old attached leaves | 20 – 30 ft. over a long time | Full or part sun. In deserts less sun |
72. The Ribbon Fan Palm | Fan | Thin trunk, Smooth | 50 or more ft. – takes long to be more than 40 ft. | Full sun |
73. The Carnarvon Gorge Palm | Fan | Thin, smooth | Over time will grow to more than 80 ft. | Full sun |
74. The Taraw Palm9 | Fan | Thin trunk, rough, diameter 12 inches | 35 ft. or more | Full sun, or part sun |
75. The Mazari Palm | Fan | Fibrous but have no spikes | 10 – 15 ft. mature | Full sun |
76. Hillebrand’s Loulu Palm | Fan | Tan in color, clean trunk with a rough texture | 20 – 25 ft. | Full or part day coastal sun |
77. The Loulou-Hiwa Palm | Fan | Fairly clean with minimal or no fibrous material, 6 inches | 20 – 30 ft. | Full sun along coast, half-day sun, strong filtered light inland |
78. Alakai Swamp Pritchardia | Fan | Thickness 6 – 8 inches. Clean but rough, columnar | 10 – 15 ft. | Full or part sun, less sun far inland |
Types of Fan Palm Trees (Popular Fan Palm Tree Types)
The following three types of fan palm trees are some of the most popular.
European Fan Palm
It tolerates very low temperatures and thrives in well-drained loamy and moist soil.
Chinese Fan Palm
It does well in warm climates and can be potted as an indoor plant.
Mexican Fan Palm
The Mexican fan Palm can do well in a desert climate and grow as high as 100 feet.5
Different Types of Fan Palm Trees and Their Unique Features
The fact that palm trees are indigenous to California is well known. How many types of palm trees are there, one may think?
Types of Indoor Palm Trees
Depending on the type of tree you are interested, there’s plenty of types of indoor palm trees to choose from. The following list can help get you started.
#1 Bamboo Palm Indoor Plant
The Bamboo Palm is a houseplant that grows up to 8 feet tall and can thrive in low light conditions. It has a diameter of about 10 feet, and its leaf color is blue to green.
It is a low-maintenance tree that you can comfortably plant in a container and keep it indoors. However, you can accelerate its growth by placing it near a window in the house.
#2 Areca Palm Indoor Plant
The Areca Palm has a smooth trunk and can grow up to 30 feet outdoors and 8 feet indoors.10 The best soil type for the plant is well-drained moist soil, and it requires full to partial sun exposure. The plant grows moderately and produces pale-yellow flowers. The long green fronds make it a beautiful plant to have in your house.
#3 Kentia Palm Indoor Plant
Kentia Palm trees are easy to maintain as they have less light and care demands. The plant can tolerate low light conditions and grow well in a container.
Kentia Palms have white flowers and do well in loamy, sandy, and well-drained soil. With such few requirements, anyone can keep a Kentia Palm plant in their house without killing it.
Small Types of Palm Trees
A small palm tree is considered any tree below 20 feet in height. While most palm trees are tall with thin trunks and broad leaves, others are small with various unique features. Below is a list of some small types of palm trees.
- Parlor Palm
- Needle Palm
- Pygmy date palm
- Pindo palm
- Lady Palm
- Bottle palm
- Mazari palm
- Triangle palm
- Baby queen palm
Self Shedding Palm Trees
Self-shedding palm trees are often called self-cleaning trees because they shed their dead fronds to give room for new ones and do not need you to remove the leaves. Therefore, these types of fan palm trees and some pinnate ones are easy to maintain.
- Christmas palm
- Areca palm
- Carpentaria palms
- Royal palm
Smooth Trunk Palm Tree
Some palm trees have a very smooth trunk even at an early age.
However, some trees become smoother as they age. Here is a list of smooth palm trees available.
- Chilean
- Royal
- The Ribbon Fan Palm
- The Carnarvon Gorge Palm
- The Belmore Palm
- High Plateau Coconut Palm
- Bailey Fan Palm
Types of Palm Trees With Spikes
Even with all the beauty, shade, and carbon offset that palm trees bring to the world, some of them are dangerous to touch. Check out the list below to know which palm trees not to plant in areas with kids or high human traffic.
- Palmiste Rouge
- Macaw Palm
- Coquillo
- Taraw Palm
- Date Palm
Types of Palm Trees in California (California Palm Trees and California Fan Palm Fruit)
These are the California palm trees with different features and fruits depending on the species.4
- Chinese Fan Palm (Only types of palm trees in California that are native)
- Bamboo Palm
- Sago Palm
- European Fan Palm
- Paradise Palm
- Desert Fan Palm
- Majestic Palm
- Lady Palm
- Needle Palm
Types of Palm Trees Arizona
Arizona has hot and dry weather, which makes it habitable for a variety of types of palm trees, Arizona species that thrive in such conditions.
Below is a list of some of those trees.
- Pygmy Date Palm Tree
- Bismarck Palm Tree11
- Queen Palm Trees
- Areca Palms
- Mexican Blue Palm
- Mediterranean Fan Palm Trees
Palm Trees in San Diego
These include:
- Mexican Fan Palm
- Queen Palm
- King Palm
- Date Palm
- Canary Island Date Palm
- Pygmy Date Palm
Types of Palm Trees in Hawaii (Hawaii Palm Trees)
There are some magnificent types of palm trees in Hawaii, with it’s beautiful landscapes and coastlines covered in the following palm trees.
- Red Sealing Wax Palm
- Loulu Palms
- Golden Cane Palm
- Areca Palm
- MacArthur Palm
- Rhapis Palm
- Fishtail Palm
- Coconut Palms
- Foxtail Palm
- Manila Palm
The Cost for Palm Tree Removal (Palm Tree Removal Cost Calculator)
There are many factors that affect the cost of palm tree removal. These factors include the height of the tree and the place. Some places have fair prices while others charge more based on the complexity of removing palm trees or other factors.
However, you can use a palm tree removal cost calculator to acquire a price quote.
Palm Tree Trimming Cost Calculator (How Much To Trim Palm Trees?)
Trimming can be a significant aid in keeping the trees healthy and so one would ask, how much to trim palm trees? The palm tree trimming cost calculator estimates the money you will pay to trim your palm tree based on the factors discussed above.
Below are some approximations of the cost of trimming or removing palm trees.
- 30 Ft & below = $150 – $450
- 30 – 60 Ft = $200 – $950
- 60 – 80 Ft = $400 to $1,100
- 80 – 100 Ft = $1,100 – $1,500 or more
You can use the tree trimming cost calculator to get an idea of how much it will cost to trim trees other than palm trees.
Free Palm Tree Removal
Sometimes you can be lucky to get free palm tree removal but that is also dependent on some factors. Groups that are likely to get free palm tree removal are seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. However, you can get the city to remove a tree for you without any cost if it falls on a public road, is on public property, or pauses a risk to people around it.12
You cannot possibly know all the available palm tree species by heart but hopefully, this guide gave you an idea of what to plant in your backyard.
There are various categories of palm trees with similar characteristics like leaf shape, trunk texture, height, and even fruit.
Most people who are interested in planting trees are environmentally conscious, so using a global footprint calculator can help them pinpoint the elements that have negatively impacted the environment and take actions such as getting involved in carbon footprint tree planting. A few are even prepared to take it a step further and search for the best carbon offset programs to accomplish their objectives.
But for most people, picking the best palm for your home is enough and of course it’s not an easy task as it depends on so many factors including how much effort you want to put into maintaining the plant. If you have less time on your hands, a self-shedding tree or an easy-to-maintain houseplant are your best options. There are many types of fan palm trees to choose from above.
Frequently Asked Questions About Types of Fan Palm Trees
What Is the Fan Palm Tree Scientific Name?
The fan palm tree’s scientific name is Hyphaene petersiana.
What Is the Fan Palm Height?
The fan palm height depends on the type.
How Many Types of Palm Trees Are There?
There are over 2900 types of palm trees.
What State Has the Most Palm Trees?
Florida has the most palm trees.
How Much Does It Cost To Trim Palm Trees?
The cost to trim palm trees ranges from $125 to $1,200.
Is Palm Tree Perennial?
Yes, palm tree is perennial.
What Is the Fan Palm Family Name?
The fan palm family name is Arecaceae family.
Where Can I Find Dwarf Palm Trees for Sale?
Dwarf palm trees are available for sale at Amazon, Alibaba, Etsy, and other online and local tree stores.
What Types of Fan Palm Trees Can I Grow Indoors?
The types of fan palm trees that can grow indoors are, Areca, Chinese, Dwarf Bamboo, Cascade, Banana, Fishtail, Kentia, Ivory Cane, Majesty, and Pygmy Date palm trees.
References
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