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In Southern California, which boasts the largest chapter of the International Palm Society, palm trees are more like pets than plants. Depending on the size and breed, palms cost from $6 to $10,000, and every breed has its champions. The most popular among commercial landscapers is the Queen Palm, a thin, feather-headed palm, although the Foxtail Palm, with a long tap root suitable for dry climates, is an up-and-comer. Homeowners prefer the Dwarf Pygmy Date Palm, a small, extremely leafy tree that gives gardens a lush, tropical look.

Topping the list of natural enemies is the dreaded pink rot, which strikes in the nursery and just after the tree has been planted. Among city trees, fuserium wilt is spread by dirty pruning tools. And unlike rot, wilt is tragically incurable.