Cocos nucifera
Coconut Palm, Niu
Edible fruit, Palms and cycads
One of the world’s best-known and most economically important palms. Its solitary trunk rises 60–100 ft. and is topped with a majestic crown of glossy, feathery fronds. Many varieties are known, with large edible fruit varying in size, shape, and color (green, yellow to orange). The plant tolerates many different soil conditions; it has excellent salt and drought tolerance and can also be found growing in brackish water. Superb for large gardens, parks, or avenues.Dwarf forms are available and more suitable for the medium-size garden; some of these reach to 10–15 ft. tall, with a feathery crown about equally wide. For queen palm, formerly called C. plumosa, see Syagrus romanzoffiana.
Requires pruning off old fronds and removing mature coconuts (which can become a hazard as they drop).
Erythrina sandwicensis
Hawaiian native to 20 to 45 ft. high and as wide. Masses of white to chartreuse, coral, orange, red, o...
Pritchardia hillebrandii
Native to Hawaii. Slow growing to 20 ft. tall, 8 ft. wide. Leaves to 4 ft. long. Full sun brings out t...
Cattleya
Bright, iconic, 2- to 6-in. flowers make even non-gardeners think “orchid” whenever they see these tro...
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