Tree of the week

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There are a million stories in the urban forest, and nobody knows more of them than my tree-loving friend, Pieter Severynen. He reminds me that the urban forest does not naturally exist in our desert climate -- it’s here because we planted the trees. So one of the most basic stories is really about us -- and how we relate to trees.

The King Palm – Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

‘Trees evoke particular emotions and we often associate specific trees with meaningful events of the past. If you hear ‘palm tree’, do you see a tropical island, a desert oasis, or a tiny burst of leaves on a tall and slender street trunk silhouetted against a purple and red sunset? What emotions come to mind?

‘By concentrating on the image, we can actually sharpen the memory or emotion. When we hear ‘palm tree’ we picture a tall single trunk topped by a crown of divided leaves. (Leaves are divided in ‘shreds’ that make it harder for the wind to get hold). But what shape do those leaves have? The fans of the Fan Palms or the feathers of Feather Palms? And if they are feathers, is it the drooping elegance of the curiously flattened Fishtail Palm leaflets, the stiff and stately fishbone formality of the King Palm that we look at this week or the happy- go-lucky looseness and ostrich feather abandon of next week’s subject, the Queen Palm?

‘The King Palm is dignified. But is also shouts: rainforest, especially when planted in groups. It is native to eastern Australia where it is called bungalow or piccabeen palm. Here it grows moderately fast to about 40’ tall by 15’ wide provided it gets enough water. The 8-10’ long, green above, gray beneath, leaves emanate horizontally or at an angle from the crown, and often end up with the straight leaf ‘shreds’ in a vertical instead of horizontal plane at the leaf’s bottom. Dead fronds shed cleanly to reveal a smooth gray trunk. A 4-6’ long bright green and clean vertical sheath separates the lavender flower clusters from the leaf crown. Small bright red waxy fruit follow in summer. Like all palms the king palm loves shade when younger and sun at maturity. Unlike other palms, it is not easy to transplant bare root. It will not take frost.’

Thanks, Pieter.
E-mail Pieter: plseve@earthlink.net
Photo Credit: L.A. Land