The future of Los Angeles is without palm trees

Los Angeles may soon say goodbye, at least in part, to its famous palm trees. Fires have destroyed many specimens in recent years, turning dry trunks into easy triggers for flames. Adding to the threat of fires are drought and disease, which are hastening the decline of trees largely planted a century ago and now nearing the end of their life cycle. Recognizable urban symbols with strong scenic value, palm trees were introduced to the city in the early decades of the 20th century to give Los Angeles an exotic image. But today they prove ill-suited to climatic demands. Their small canopies do not provide sufficient shade, do not contribute to street cooling, and require high water consumption along with frequent pruning of dry fronds.

For this reason, city authorities have begun to reorient the urban green strategy. The planting of palm trees along streets has been progressively reduced in favor of trees with wider canopies that can lower local temperatures and improve air quality. Drought-tolerant native species, such as oaks and sycamores, are now favored because they can create extensive and more environmentally useful shade zones.

Parallel to this, Los Angeles is investing in programs dedicated to expanding urban shade in anticipation of increasingly scorching summers. The "ShadeLA" initiative was launched in 2025, a collaboration between public institutions, universities, and associations, with the goal of planting new trees in the most vulnerable areas. Despite these efforts, the city's green coverage remains limited and catching up with other metropolises will take time.

The palm tree, however, remains an ingrained identity element of the metropolis. Just in the last few days, the L.A. County Museum of Art's (LACMA) decision to plant 77 palm trees for reasons related to a historic art installation has stirred debate. Critics have pointed out the inappropriateness of a choice that does not contribute to shade, while the museum has defended the project as part of the local tradition, envisioning future integration with other species with large foliage.

The gradual downsizing of palm trees marks a paradigm shift. Adapting cities to global warming means rethinking urban forestation strategies and prioritizing trees capable of providing climate resilience. Realities such as Phoenix, but also European metropolises, have already adopted plans aimed at increasing shaded areas and mitigating the heat island effect. In Los Angeles, the transformation of the vegetated landscape indicates the need to combine local identity and new forms of environmental comfort.

Opening image: Los Angeles. Photo Ivan Karpov, via Unsplash