Originally Posted by David E. Ross

On 9/22/2009 3:44 PM, Brettster wrote:
A plant expert ID'd this as a Phoenix reclinata, adding that it had
been planted inappropriately. "They make a huge, suckering plant with
about a ten foot or more circumference," he said. "They need room. It
needs to be in the open."

I guess that's what it is...


The common name for P. reclinata is Senegal date palm. It can grow
quite large.

If there are other P. reclinata within a mile or so, this might not have
been planted. Large birds eat the fruit from mature trees and spread
the seeds. "Volunteer" seedlings are quite common.

I suggest you contact the property owner and inform him or her about the
eventual size of this tree, the hazard (and thus liability) it currently
creates for people walking nearby, and the future damage it might cause
the adjacent structure.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary