Royal palm

Roystonea regia

Range: South Florida, Caribbean & Mexico

Nothing says “Miami” like an avenue of majestic royal palms. This is an iconic, native palm that is grown throughout South Florida as a street tree and in all kinds of landscapes. The green column at the top of the stem is formed by the bases of the enormous feathery leaves. When royal palms bloom, they release so much pollen that it can look like falling snow. Drive through the agricultural lands south of Miami and you’ll see acres and acres of royal palms being cultivated for the landscape industry. You can still find some royal palms growing wild in the Everglades, but they are much more common in Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean.