Palm trees are easy to identify because they have unique leaf shapes such as feathers or fans. However, there are thousands of species of palms and distinguishing them from one another is sometimes difficult. To identify a palm, know its characteristics, such as leaf shape, color, midrib and number of stems, and the size of the tree. Search the internet for the types of palms that grow in your area and compare their characteristics to the search results. Alternatively, you can visit a plant identifier website or app to find out which palm species you have.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Checking Palm Leaves
Step 1. Observe the feather-shaped pinnate leaves
The first step to identifying a palm tree is to examine the shape of its leaves. The most common leaf shape is feather-like; leaves extend from long stalks that grow from the crown (top) of the tree. If palm leaves are feathery or pinnate, you can narrow the subfamily and look for pinnate tree species in your local area.
Pinnate or feather-like leaves are found in most of the most common palm varieties, including areca palm, coconut, queen palm, and date palm
Step 2. If it doesn't look like feathers, see if the leaves are fan-shaped
If the palm leaves don't resemble feathers, the leaves are probably fan-like in shape. The fan leaf grows from one main point. The leaves are usually attached to each other at half their length. In some species, the entire leaf structure can grow to a minimum of 2.5 m wide!
As with pinnate palms, if a palm has fang-like leaves, you can narrow down the subfamily and look for finger palm varieties that grow in the area. Examples of finger-leaved palm species include the Bismarck palm (Bismarckia nobilis), the Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta), and the windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)
Step 3. Observe the unusual leaf shape
The sabal palm – a tree native to the Americas and the Caribbean islands – has costapalmate leaves. Leaves grow from long structures called ribs, rather than from a single main point. It still looks like a fan, but looks like a cross between a feather-like pinnate leaf and a fan-like fingertip.
Although uncommon, there is a family of palms that have pinnate leaves like fish tails. In pinnate leaves, a secondary stem whose leaves are feathery grows from the trunk of the main tree. This family of palms grows in Southeast Asia and Oceania
Step 4. Observe which way the leaf folds
Individually, the palm leaves are folded in the middle and form a V shape. Check the palms you have and see if the leaves form a V facing up or down. Leaves that form a V upward are called inducative; while leaves that form a downward V are called reduplicates.
Leaf folds can help you further narrow down the palm subfamily. For example, if the shape of a palm leaf is pinnate like a feather with an inducative V-fold upward, it is likely that the type of palm is a date
Observe the Color:
Color can help you distinguish species that have the same leaf structure. Palm leaf color varies, there are dark green, pale green, yellow, or bluish silver. Also, check to see if the top and bottom of the leaf have a different color.
Method 2 of 3: Checking Palm Tree Trunks
Step 1. Notice if the stems are numerous
The number of trunks is the first feature to check when identifying a palm tree. Most mature palm trees have a single trunk. If the palms you have are clumped or have multiple stems, set aside palm species that grow leaves from a single main stem.
- For example, if a palm is clumped, has finger-leafs, and the leaf folds form a downward V, you can be sure that it is a member of the Guihaia family.
- It's not easy to tell if your palm saplings are clumped or growing with single stems. Single-trunked species may grow in clumps when they are small, then one stem rises and develops into the main stem.
Step 2. Check if the tree trunk and petioles have spines, fibers, or thistles
Look for folds, shoots, fibers, and other sheaths along the trunk. Also, if the tree is not very tall, pay attention to whether there are thorns or small spurs where the leaves grow from the crown, namely at the top of the tree. Some species have really sharp spines. So be careful not to get stabbed!
- In many species, there are leaf marks imprinted along the main stem. The shape is sometimes like a horizontal line, a rough bump, or a folded tip.
- The midrib can sometimes help you distinguish one species from another. For example, if a palm has fan-shaped leaves, spiny leaf bases, and hairy fibers on its stems, it is likely a Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis).
Step 3. Estimate the height of the palm
Palm sizes vary. As with leaf and stem characteristics, tree height can also help you determine the species. For example, let's say you researched the characteristics of leaves and stems and found two possible varieties. If one of these species grows very tall, but your palm grows like a shrub, you can set aside the taller variety.
- Mini palms are generally kept as ornamental plants in homes and gardens, including dwarf date palms (pygmy date palms or phoenix palms), bottle palms, antidote jambe, and parlor palms. These plants usually grow below 4 meters.
- From heads to wax palms (Quindio or Ceroxylon quindiuense), hundreds of species of palms can grow very tall. For example, Quindio palms can grow to a minimum of 60 m!
Tip:
You can only use tree height as an identification tool for mature trees because no one knows how tall the young palms will grow to be. Generally, it takes 4-6 years for palms to mature, but some species may continue to grow for 20 years or more before finally reaching their maximum height.
Step 4. Check the fruit at the top of the tree
If the palm happens to have fruit, check the crown at the top of the tree to see it. Some species have small, clustered fruits, such as dates, acai palms and areca nut. Others produce coconuts (or coconut-like fruit) in various sizes.
- Fruit color can also help you narrow certain species. For example, some dates produce bright orange fruit, while others are deep purple.
- Common and dwarf date palms are commonly used as ornamental plants in homes and gardens. Coconut trees are found along tropical beaches and in warm climates are also widely planted in the yard.
- Almost all palms are edible and many of them-like the acai palm-are very healthy. However, some palms are also poisonous. So, don't eat palm fruit, unless you are sure that it is safe.
Method 3 of 3: Using the Plant Identifier Tool
Step 1. Search the internet for common palm species in your area
After identifying the leaf and stem characteristics, look for palm species that have these characteristics. If grown outdoors, look for palms that are native to your area and climate.
For example, you live on the Gulf Coast of America. There are 9 families of palms growing in the area and you may be curious about the costapalmate palms (elongated fan-shaped), smooth petioles, and hairy fibers growing between the leaves. Based on these characteristics, you can be sure that it is a Sabal palm
Step 2. Enter palm traits into the online palm identifier
You can find very helpful interactive plant identifier tools on the internet. Visit Palm ID Key, a collaborative project of the US Department of Agriculture and other government agencies, at
To use this tool, select the features of the palm in the column Leaf (leaf), Stem (stalk), inflorescence (inflorescence, i.e. shape, color, and flower growth), and Fruit. Each time you check a box in one of the column traits, such as pinnate fronds or clustering trunks, the tool eliminates palm families that don't have that trait.
Step 3. Try the plant identifier mobile app
Download the identifier app and take a picture of the palm you want to identify. Photo-based plant identifier applications include Leafsnap and PlantNet. Palm ID Key is also available as a mobile app, but is, like the site, based on feature selection, rather than photo upload.
Always remember:
There are thousands of species of palms and no plant identifier app has a complete library of every variety. However, by knowing the characteristics of the palm you have, you can narrow down the list and – at least – know its family.
