Washingtonia filifera

California fan palm

California fan palm was important to natives in the American Southwest, especially the Cahuilla and Pima. Oases in the region often included these palms, which were used extensively by natives. Desert oases can be romanticized as paradises of sorts but they are usually not much more than an area with a source of fresh water that supports a stand of plants and animals, which may be relatively few. I guess if you are lost in the desert, scorched by the sun and in dire need of water and shade, an oasis can truly be a paradise in that moment. Regardless, California fan palm oases were areas frequently chosen as areas to settle by natives. Below is a great little clip of one of the largest California fan palm oases - looks pretty nice in comparison to the land around it!

For nourishment, the fruits and seeds were eaten raw or dried and could be ground up for use as flour or meal. The fruits were soaked in water and squeezed to make a beverage. Young leaves and apical buds (the leaf bud at the top of the palm) were also eaten, along with the flowers.

The leaves were used by natives to thatch roofs and walls, make sandals and other clothing, and weave baskets. Hunting bows and utensils were made from the petioles (the stalk that connects the leaf to the trunk) and the trunk itself. Fibers derived from the leaves were used to make rope. Seeds were used inside gourd rattles. Leaves were cut to make images of the dead in memorials.

Grows up north to Zone 8b in full sun and a variety of well-drained soils.