Chilean wine palm
The Chilean Wine Palm (Jubaea chilensis) is native to Chile. It has small edible nuts that look like tiny coconuts or 'coquitos.' Syrup and wine can be made from the sap of the palm. However, in order to obtain the sap, the tree must be topped, which kills the tree. The palm is endangered in it native region. Do you want to see some photos of this palm in Chile?
The Chilean wine palm is monoecious, meaning that both male and female flowers occur on the palm.
Here you can see an old fruiting structure that has been used for fun by one of the gardeners who picks up after the palms. Behind is one of the protective spathes that has also fallen.
Roses, plumbago flowers, and flying dragon fruits have been put into the tangle of branchlets.
These two palms have long stood over this 'Circle Garden.' A modern Japanese-style garden was built from 1983-1985. To learn more about the Japanese Garden, see the website.
These palms stand as sentries in the Japanese garden. A wisteria arbor was installed under the palms. One might suspect that this was to protect visitors from the falling fronds.
Unknown date, probably in the mid 1910s... The twin palms can be seen on the right as teen-aged palms. Perhaps there are a couple of Joseph and Florence Shinn's children in this photo.