the oldest palm in California...............

[trioderob]

I think that the palm in the left side of this image goes back to the 1700s and was planted with a seed taken aboard ship to the new world,

Image is of san diego mission approx 1849

by the way this was not that easy to find and figure out.......................

Edited July 18, 2013 by trioderob

[Zeeth]

There are some 90 ft Sabal palmetto in Florida that have to be a few hundred years old considering there are some a fraction of that height documented to be 130+ years old

[Moose]

The oldest palm in California still in a container has to be in Bill's yard

[Hammer]

The oldest palm in California still in a container has to be in Bill's yard

Sorry for laughing Bill. I don't know you well enough but that was too funny.

[buffy]

Actually the oldest is would be Washingtonia filifera or something earlier.

[trioderob]

true-

I should have stated non native.

in this case they are CIDP

which came from the other side of the planet

[HorsesnPalms]

I just came across this photo of the mission. It was on this page http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf15800600/ It was called the Serra Palm and was planted in 1769 along with two others. It was eventually cut down in 1957 after many attempts to save it. You can read the entire story here http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/v56-3/v56-3trent.pdf It is quite sad.

Edited July 19, 2013 by HorsesnPalms

[Hammer]

What year was this photo taken? Any ideas? Does anyone know if any of the palms in the photo are still living? For that matter what would the oldest individual living palms be in CA?

[LJG]

I just came across this photo of the mission. It was on this page http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf15800600/ It was called the Serra Palm and was planted in 1769 along with two others. It was eventually cut down in 1957 after many attempts to save it. You can read the entire story here http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/v56-3/v56-3trent.pdf It is quite sad.

Thanks. Great read.

[turfpro01]

I know its not the oldest, But heres the local court house was built in 1876 and that palm tree is still there and pretty tall now. Pic is from 1890s There is actually quiet a few palms in the area that where planted around the same time.

[Hammer]

What year was this photo taken? Any ideas? Does anyone know if any of the palms in the photo are still living? For that matter what would the oldest individual living palms be in CA?

Well that was an incredibly dumb post in an otherwise interesting thread. Helps to do some actual reading doesn't it?

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Great story - imagine what that palm saw over it's life span - Mexican bandit's on horses to James Dean wanna be's in the 50 's !

[Zeeth]

I just came across this photo of the mission. It was on this page http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf15800600/ It was called the Serra Palm and was planted in 1769 along with two others. It was eventually cut down in 1957 after many attempts to save it. You can read the entire story here http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/v56-3/v56-3trent.pdf It is quite sad.

Super cool! I wonder what palms the Spanish brought to Florida with them when they reached here.

[HorsesnPalms]

I just came across this photo of the mission. It was on this page http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf15800600/ It was called the Serra Palm and was planted in 1769 along with two others. It was eventually cut down in 1957 after many attempts to save it. You can read the entire story here http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/v56-3/v56-3trent.pdf It is quite sad.

Super cool! I wonder what palms the Spanish brought to Florida with them when they reached here.

I thought the exact same thing.....maybe I will try to find out if there is any recorded history.

[HorsesnPalms]

While I was looking for the exact location on Google, I came across another oldest palm...This one is a Washy. Its still alive..Those in Los Angeles go check it out.

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/where-we-are/remembering-whats-always-been-here-the-citys-oldest-palm.html

[Xerarch]

While I was looking for the exact location on Google, I came across another oldest palm...This one is a Washy. Its still alive..Those in Los Angeles go check it out.

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/where-we-are/remembering-whats-always-been-here-the-citys-oldest-palm.html

Check those guys out! Moving that huge thing without a semi-truck or a modern crane or anything, impressive task given the time period.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

true-

I should have stated non native.

in this case they are CIDP

which came from the other side of the planet

They don't look like CDIP, these look like regular date palms (phoenix dactylifera), it's easy to tell from the thinner fronds. In fact, reading the article, they talk about them being date palms. makes sense, as most likely anyone in the 18th century trying to colonize the West would plant something that provides sustenance.

[sur4z]

I just came across this photo of the mission. It was on this page http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf15800600/ It was called the Serra Palm and was planted in 1769 along with two others. It was eventually cut down in 1957 after many attempts to save it. You can read the entire story here http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/v56-3/v56-3trent.pdf It is quite sad.

Super cool! I wonder what palms the Spanish brought to Florida with them when they reached here.

maybe this is th answer

http://tlhfor013.doacs.state.fl.us/ChampionTrees.Public/home.mvc/Detail/79