The four most common species across the Peninsula are queen palms, Mexican fan palms, Canary Island date palms, and windmill palms – and yes, they each have different care requirements. Queen palms are moderate height, fast-growing, and produce heavy seed clusters that need regular removal. Mexican fan palms grow very tall and develop persistent dead frond skirts that accumulate quickly and become a falling hazard. Canary Island date palms are large and slow-growing with sharp frond bases that require protective equipment to work around. Windmill palms are smaller and cold-tolerant, needing the least maintenance of the four. Our arborist identifies your specific species before recommending a care plan.

Not sure which palms you have? Trunk texture is the fastest tell: a crosshatched diamond pattern means Canary Island date palm, smooth rings mean queen palm, shaggy fiber means windmill, and very tall and slender means Mexican fan palm.