Palms’ worth is in eyes of beholder

Re “Fan palms no longer hold sway,” Nov. 18

Richard Henry Dana wrote in the mid-19th century that the Los Angeles coastal plain was “as far as the eye could reach, entirely bare of trees and even shrubs.” This highlights the overwhelming stupidity and ignorance underlying Los Angeles’ decision to go native with street trees. To truly go native in the area between downtown and the beaches, the city would have to get rid of all the trees and even shrubs.

On the other hand, because city experts consider fan palms to be a type of grass, and only grass is native to the coastal plain, by the city’s logic only fan palms should be planted along streets there. Although cities from San Francisco to Paris embrace palms, Los Angeles leaders want to kill off the city’s signature trees and force “native” species on an unsuspecting public.

Perhaps it is wiser to look back to the decisions of earlier Angeleno leaders, who planted elegant jacarandas, palms and other tropical species that cannot be grown in most U.S. cities, highlighting the advantages of our climate.

CHRIS FORD

Los Angeles

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Although it is certainly true that sycamores, oaks and other leafy native species contribute more shade, collect more rainwater and release more oxygen than fan palms, several considerations and questions come to mind with respect to narrow parkways and median strips.

Though less eco-friendly than various native species, fan palms are uniquely well-suited for landscaping narrow areas because they don’t shed much debris and they grow tall enough that the canopy is out of the way of the sidewalk or parked cars.

It is well known that the city is unable to maintain existing parkway trees on a regular basis. Has the city developed a plan for regular cleaning of all streets where leafy trees are planted, and for regular pruning so that our sidewalks and streets are unimpeded and our catch basins are not clogged with leafy debris?

STEVE FREEDMAN

Venice

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California has 6,000 native plant species, and we are only now beginning to rediscover how beautiful and practical they are -- less water, no pesticides or fertilizers, wildlife attractors.

Perhaps the City Council should also take it upon itself to change the city tree -- the coral tree -- to a native one, such as a valley oak or a sycamore. Why honor a tree that wasn’t here when the city was founded more than 200 years ago?

KEITH MALONE

Montecito Heights