The California Fan Palm is the only palm native to the western United States, forming iconic oases in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts wherever groundwater reaches the surface. Its large fan-shaped leaves die and droop downward, forming a distinctive 'skirt' around the trunk that provides nesting habitat for hooded orioles and various bats. Trees can live over 150 years and reach 75 feet tall. Desert oases created by this palm are biodiversity hotspots in an otherwise arid landscape.
Best time to see a California Fan Palm
The best time to see a California Fan Palm is January–May, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,032 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a California Fan Palm? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent California Fan Palm sightings near you
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