“The traveler sees what he sees; the tourist sees what he has come to see.” Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
Looking like a cross between a banana plant and a palm tree (Why do they call them palms? Look at your open hand.), the Traveler’s Palm is absolutely luscious. It is a majestic species, destined to reign over any landscape it inhabits. Not so regal to begin with, it hides its trunk underground when young and eventually, when the leaves and petioles fall off and the trunk is revealed, its obvious leaf scar rings show its true palm heritage. Perhaps it’s the symmetry that fascinates us—somewhat rare in the world of trees. Its large white flowers are showy and bloom all year.
This palm, itself, is a traveler. Originating in far-off Madagascar, it finds a welcome home in the Orlando area. Creating an exotic aura, it becomes the star of any landscape where it’s stationed, provided you give it plenty of room to spread its fan. It’s a pleasure to care for as it plays the first lovely notes of a tropically orchestrated landscape.
