# California fan palm (*Washingtonia filifera*) The California fan palm is a tall tree with big, fan-shaped leaves. It grows in warm places and can live for many years, providing shade and beauty to its surroundings. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Desert ![California fan palm](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/California_fan_palm_02.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_fan_palm_02.jpg) ## Appearance The California fan palm has a single, stout trunk topped by a crown of large, stiff, fan-shaped green leaves. Often, a shaggy 'skirt' of dead, brown leaves hangs below the living canopy. Its trunk is thick and gray-brown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Arecales - **Family:** Arecaceae - **Genus:** Washingtonia ## Interesting facts - Ancient people ate its sweet, date-like fruit and seeds for thousands of years. - Its 'hula skirt' of dead leaves can sometimes reach the ground, providing shelter for animals! - Its giant fan leaves can be wider than a person's arms spread out wide! - Some wild palms in California have lived for over 200 years, older than many countries! ## Special abilities - **Fire-Resistant Skirt:** The California fan palm has a dense skirt of dead leaves that can help protect its trunk from moderate fires, aiding survival. - **Deep Water Roots:** California fan palms can grow long taproots to reach deep underground water sources, helping them survive in dry deserts. - **Desert Oasis Creator:** California fan palm provides critical shade and food in arid regions, creating mini-oases for numerous desert animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-30 m - **Spread:** 3-6 m - **Edible:** Yes - **Size:** 80-120 cm - **Lifespan:** 80-250 years - **Fruit Type:** Small, black drupe - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Evergreen ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Mourning Dove](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mourning-dove) (*Zenaida macroura*) — eats the palm's small fruits - **Eats:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — disperses seeds by eating fruit - **Shelter:** [Western Meadowlark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-meadowlark) (*Sturnella neglecta*) — nests within its dense canopy - **Eats:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — consumes fallen palm fruits ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around palm trees; their fronds can be sharp if they fall. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California fan palm? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is California fan palm? 15-30 m ### How wide does California fan palm spread? 3-6 m ### Is California fan palm edible? Yes ### How big is California fan palm? 80-120 cm ### How long does California fan palm live? 80-250 years ### Where is California fan palm usually found? Desert ### What kind of fruit does California fan palm produce? Small, black drupe ## Where to spot - [Hanbury Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hanbury-botanical-gardens) — IT · Park ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [California fan palm: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-fan-palm)