The Only 14 States in America Where You’ll Find Palm Trees

Palms are a beautiful feature in a handful of states in the United States – along with a hefty worldwide distribution. These plants belong in the family Arecaceae, which is a family of flowering perennial plants. This family of plants is expansive and does not only include palm trees. In fact, there are over 2,500 species of palms growing around the world. Today, we’ll focus specifically on palm trees, which are members of this family that have a tree-like form. Palm trees grow in tropical and subtropical climates and have a number of diverse features. Long-living and evergreen, these trees are a classic image in our mind when we think of states like Florida and California.

These amazing trees don’t only grow in those two states. Let’s look at all of the states where palm trees grow. Two of the states we’ll list are disputed, not because they don’t grow there, but because research suggests the species was introduced to the state instead of native. We’ll note which states these are, but we’re including them in our article because they do grow there. The dispute on nativity is an important one, but not one we’ll be covering as we explore the 14 states where palm trees grow. Let’s get started!

Alabama

We think of Alabama as a very warm state, but most species of palm trees that grow here – including the Mazari palm and the Sago palm – are cold-hardy palm trees.

Arizona

Arizona has an impressive number of palm trees, including species such as the date palm, the queen palm, and the Mexican fan palm. However, only one species of palm tree is native to this southwestern state – the California fan palm.

Arkansas

Several hardy palm tree species grow in Arkansas, including the Pindo palm tree, the saw palmetto palm tree, and the windmill palm tree.

California

Spanish missionaries are responsible for the introduction of many palm tree species in California. Only the California fan palm is native to the Golden State, but over two dozen other species of palm trees grow there.

Florida

This peninsular state is home to 12 native palm species and houses several more other species of palm. It is the number one state for palm trees in the nation, and home to the coconut palm – the famous fruiting palm that produces coconuts.

Georgia

The one palm tree that grows in Georgia is the cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). It grows in the coastal plains of Georgia and reaches heights of 60 feet. Three other species of palm grow natively in the state.

Hawaii

Several species of palm trees grow in Hawaii, but we must highlight the Loulu palms. These amazing palm trees are comprised of 24 separate species, all in the genus Pritchardia.

Louisiana

Louisiana is home to a number of hardy palm species, including the needle palm, the Texas palmetto, the cabbage palm, and the windmill palm.

Mississippi

The cabbage palm is the native palm tree species in Mississippi, but there are a few other palm species growing across the state.

Nevada (Disputed)

There is some dispute as to whether Nevada has any native palm trees. However, it is certainly true that a number of palm species do grow in Nevada, including the Mexican fan palm and the California fan palm.

North Carolina

The cabbage palm is native in southeastern North Carolina, but it isn’t the only palm tree that grows in the state. You might spot a Pindo palm, a needle palm, or even a European fan palm.

South Carolina

The cabbage palm is popular on this list, and for a good reason. It has a great growth range. In South Carolina, it is celebrated as the official state tree. Another name for this tree is the Sabal Palmetto.

Texas

The extreme south of Texas is where you’ll see the most palm trees. Two species of palm are native to Texas – the dwarf palmetto and the Mexican palmetto. Northern Texans can also see palm trees – the introduced saw palmetto grows as far north as the Texas Panhandle.

Virginia (Disputed)

Fossil evidence suggests that Virginia was once home to a native palm tree species – the dwarf palmetto – but now only hosts introduced and cultivated palm tree species. The state is now disputed, as modern evidence indicates that there are no current native palm tree species in Virginia. You can still see European fan palms, windmill palms, and dwarf palmettos in certain regions of the state.