The Best Palm Trees for Beverly Hills Properties

While the glitzy homes and movie stars are perhaps Beverley Hill’s biggest claim to fame, the city’s iconic palm trees aren’t far behind. Palm trees line many of the local roads and throughways, and help provide much of the city’s visual charm.

But palm trees needn’t be limited to Rodeo Drive or Hillcrest Road – you can plant your own palm trees, provided you have the space and resources necessary to care for them. However, the world is home to some 2,600 palm species, and some are better suited for the city than others are.

Many tree problems begin with poor species selection, so give the following species consideration if you are interested in adding a few palm trees to your property. If you’d like some help selecting and installing palm trees (or caring for the ones you already have), be sure to contact your friends at Evergreen Arborist Consultants.

Mexican Fan Palm

The Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) is one of the best-suited species for any location in southern California, including Beverly Hills. But you need to understand what you are getting yourself into: Mexican fan palms occasionally reach heights approaching 100 feet. Mexican fan palms are slightly less cold-hardy than their Californian counterparts, but this is rarely an important criterion for Beverly Hills homes.

California Fan Palm

California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera) are the only palm native to California, and as is usually the case, native plants are among the best choices for any property. In fact, California fan palms are often regarded as one of the hardiest palms in widespread usage. Reaching about 50 feet in height, these palms are much better choices for small locations than their larger Mexican cousins.

Mexican Blue Palm

Mexican blue palms (Brahea armata) are another great option for those living in Beverly Hills, and they provide a slightly different color to the landscape than most other palms do. Shorter and stouter than the fan palms, Mexican blue palms have thick “trunks” and reach about 60 feet in height. One of the most drought-tolerant palms suitable for the area, they are also adaptable to partially shaded areas.

Queen Palm

The queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) is one of the most widespread palms in Beverly Hills, partly because they are a fast-growing species, which can quickly reach impressive size. However, queen palms need more regular maintenance than many other palms, as the fronds are not long-lived. The edible fruit produced by the tree are often eaten by birds and other wildlife.

King Palm

King palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) don’t reach the heights of the Mexican fan palms, and they generally stay under 50 feet in height. King palms do not require the same level of care as queen palms and some others do, and they are very adaptable plants, that can thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Guadalupe Palm

The Guadalupe palm (Brahea edulis) is one of the smaller palms that works well in Beverly Hills properties. While they occasionally reach 45 feet or so in height, most remain much smaller than this. Hardy little plants, these palms often tolerate poor soils, as well as high winds.