A Desert Native Tree...Washingtonia filifera

The next few series of posts will explore some varieties of native desert trees that you may like to include in your garden: ( Desert Fan Palm, one of four posts. )

The ancient ones said coyote planted the first trees. The oriole views this palm as his nesting place, desert animals view it as a food source, the Cahuilla viewed it reverently and called it maul...this desert tree we call Washingtonia filifera or native desert fan palm. This tree, whose fossilized remnants have been found as far north as Wyoming and dated back to 50 million years is the only native desert palm in California and is still growing robustly ( no pun intended ) in our own Borrego Springs desert ! There have been some differing opinions regarding the dating of these trees. If you think botanical research cannot be fun, I refer you to an article written by James Cornett: The Desert Fan Palm, Not a Relic and another article by Spencer, Winton: The Desert Fan Palm--Evidence Supports Relic Status. ( look them up online ) As any Palm Society member will agree, whether ancient or an "invading species ", they create an astonishingly great amount of interest!

As a recent curbside addition to Palm Canyon Drive, these trees were planted as an addition to other native plants along Borrego's main roadway. As expected, the trees drew criticism as well as admiration from residents. Some said they were going to use too much of our precious water supply. I'll have to admit, they do use water but these are trees you just HAVE to admire!

Historically, they have no peer as far as desert trees go. With heights up to sixty feet, they are, to the desert, what the giant sequoias are to northern California. Their fronds are up to six feet in width, with a fan of leaflets up to six feet. They grow in groups where ample water is available. They grow in bajadas, along streams, at river mouths...even in the badlands if a seep or groundwater is available. They quickly and thickly cluster together to form the idyllic desert oases we have all read about. They recover quickly from wildfires and floods and live to a great old age of two hundred fifty or more!