Phoenix sp.
(c) Vítor Jorge, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Vítor Jorge · licence
Family: Arecaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Phoenix sp. is a non-native California shrub in the Arecaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Washingtonia: Phoenix has feather-like leaves with rows of leaflets; Washingtonia has fan-shaped leaves spreading from one point.; vs Cycas: Phoenix is a true palm with a single unbranched trunk; Cycas has a thick, stumpy trunk and new leaves emerge in whorls.; vs Syagrus: Phoenix leaflets stand stiffly at angles; Syagrus leaflets droop gracefully downward in an arching tent-like arrangement.; vs Butia: Phoenix leaflets are stiff and V-shaped; Butia leaflets curve backward and have a softer, more flexible appearance.; vs Chrysalidocarpus: Phoenix has a single massive trunk; Chrysalidocarpus forms clumps of multiple slender stems from the base.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phoenix sp. native to California?
No. Phoenix sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Phoenix sp. belong to?
Phoenix sp. is in the Arecaceae family, genus Phoenix.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.