New Zealand 'Nikau' or 'Shaving Brush' Palm Trees

Mediterranean Fan Palms

Atlas Mountains Fan Palms

While many of the older Palms in San Francisco, including those at the Presidio, are Canary Island Palms, more younger palms from newer plantings are Mediterranean Fan Palms.  These palms from the Mediterranean region have fan shaped leaves, and are well suited to the Bay Area's Mediterranean climate.  

The Atlas Mountains Fan Palm provides an unusual color combination, with silver blue leaves and reddish hued trunks, even at a young age.  When mature, these Atlas Mountains Palms are beautiful and striking in sunlight.  

Atlas Mountain Fan Palms when young.

The reddish hue in healthy trunks is visible 

in Atlas Palms even at a young age.

Palm Trees at the Presidio National Park in San Francisco

Please stay tuned for fotos and information on Palm Trees at the Presidio National Park in San Francisco.  Formerly the headquarters of the Sixth Army, and a long time military installation, the Presidio has transitioned to a National Park with accompanying improvements to the landscape and plants.  The Parade Ground has many historic mature palm trees.

 The following fotos show some newer plantings of smaller and younger Mediterranean Fan Palms near the Letterman Digital Arts Campus.  These Mediterranean fan palms look great in the Presidio setting and are well maintained by Presidio Trust staff.

The proportions of the Mediteranean Fan Palm complements the historic buildings and roofline.

The fan palm leaves are both dynamic and striking.

When young, the trunk of the Mediterannean Fan Palms present an attractive reddish and orange hue that contrasts with the green and green-yellow fan palm fronds.

When young, the fan palm presents a bushy appearance from multiple fan branches that grow out at a range of angles.  

Palm Trees at the Palmetorum at Oakland's Lake Merritt Park

Palm Trees at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

This section present photographs and information on Palm Trees at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, including the "Shaving Brush" Palm Trees from New Zealand.  The Nikau Palm, orginally from New Zealand, is an unusual palm tree that is well adapted to the San Francisco Bay Area climate.  It's distinctive 'shaving brush' shape is both surprising and memorable.  This first photograph shows the Nikau Palm on the 'shade side' of the main entrance to the Botanical Garden, near 9th Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard.

Palm Trees at the Sunnyside Conservatory in San Francisco

The taller, mature Chilean Wine Palm presents the distinctive wine bottle silhouette.

The younger palm tree is a more recent planting and shows a bushy appearance.

These palm trees frame the Sunnyside Conservatory building beautifully!