The California Fan Palm 1887

THE TWIN PALMS IN LOS ANGELES.

From the Pacific Rural Press, December 17, 1887.

"Our indigenous palm, one of the most striking native plants of the State, gave the botanists some trouble in classification. First it was Prichardia, then a Brahea, and finally it has found botanical rest as Washingtonea filifera. Its native area along the Colorado river was thrown open to the public by the building of the Southern overland route, and is now a comparatively familiar country. Long ago, however, seeds were brought from this region and plants were established which have now grown to grand size, while the facts of their introduction have become a matter of tradition. The twin palms shown in the engraving which are growing within the limits of Los Angeles city, are perhaps the oldest and largest cultivated fan palms in the State. They are probably upward of 50 years old. The tourist who enters Los Angeles from the east by the Southern Pacific sees them upon the left side of the railway just before the station is reached; in fact, the buildings shown in the lower lefthand corner of the picture are those of the railway. These palms are a landmark for the tourist, and their photographs are in great request. They are now being encroached upon by the buildings, and may fall before the progress of the day, but we trust they will be spared as long as possible.


The California palm was widely distributed over the State at quite an early day. It is on record that Louis Prevost, the pioneer San Jose horticulturist, brought seed from the southern desert to San Jose about 30 years ago, and succeeded in growing about 50 plants. These were carried to all the chief points in the northern half of the State. Either from this, or in some cases perhaps from later propagations, came the large fan palms which are to lie found at points in the Sacramento valley as far up as Shasta county; also in Calistoga, in Sacramento, Stockton and elsewhere.

The plant is a rapid and vigorous grower and quite hardy. It also bears transplantation well.

Some years ago the late Governor Latham bought two old palms at San Jose. They were at the time about 25 feet high, and he is said to have paid $1000 for the pair. These he moved from San Jose to his residence at Menlo Park, where they grew well and are still standing on the old Latham place."


So when was the California fan palm introduced to Northern California?
That would make it 1857 that Louis Prevost brought seeds to San Jose. Where did those 50 plants end up?