California Fan Palm

The California fan palm (also called the desert fan palm or Washington palm) is the only palm tree native to the western United States, where it graces desert oases in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts with towering trunks that can reach 80 feet and a striking “skirt” of dead fronds. These fan-shaped leaves create essential shade and a unique microclimate for desert wildlife—bats, rodents, and insects often shelter within the hanging foliage, while birds and other animals feed on the creamy-white flowers and blackberries. Once a vital food and material source for Indigenous peoples, this hardy palm remains a keystone of desert ecology, but it depends on underground water sources to survive—a reminder that the conservation of natural springs and aquifers is crucial for preserving these iconic desert giants.