UCCE palm tree expert authors books on proper care of tropical landscape trees

“Palms are the iconic and signature trees of California, especially the southern part of the state,” said Donald R. Hodel, UC Cooperative Extension advisor for Los Angeles County.  Hodel, an internationally recognized expert on palms and environmental horticulture. has written two new books about caring for palm trees in landscapes: “Loulu: The Hawaiian Palm” and “Biology and Management of Landscape Palms.”

In “Loulu” (University of Hawaii Press, $48, 216 pages), Hodel shares his experience and extensive research on Hawaii’s only native palm species. Several of the Loulu species are grown as landscape features in coastal Southern California. He describes each of the 24 species in detail and handsomely illustrates the plants’ leaves, flower stalks, fruits and habitat with more than 250 color photographs.

With (Britton Fund, Inc. of the International Society of Arboriculture (Western Chapter), $35, 162 pages), Hodel examines palm biology and its implications for managing these plants in the landscape, including disorders, pruning, transplanting, and disease and pest management. Proceeds from the sale of this book are donated back to the Britton Fund to support tree research.

“This book provides arborists and others in the landscape and tree-care industries with the necessary background information on biology and specific practices to manage these unique plants successfully,” said Hodel.

Hodel has been a student of palms for more than 40 years and is considered to be an international authority in palm horticulture and taxonomy. His research focuses on selection, planting and management of woody plants in the landscape with a special emphasis on plant water use, trees and palms.

He was honored with the 2010 R.W. Harris Author’s Citation award from the International Society of Arboriculture. The award, one of the top three given every year by the professional society, recognizes authors of outstanding and sustained excellence in the publication of timely information in the field of arboriculture.

Hodel has authored or co-authored more than 75 peer-reviewed journal articles, more than 375 trade or popular publication articles and six books, including “Exceptional Trees of Los Angeles.”  He has delivered more than 300 presentations to industry groups, professional and honor societies, university and other governmental agencies, and consumers about various aspects of landscape plant selection and management. 

To order “Biology and Management of Landscape Palms,” please visit http://www.thebrittonfund.org/publications. “Loulu” can be ordered at http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu.

For more information on landscape plant care from UC Cooperative Extension, please visit http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu. As part of the University of California, Cooperative Extension was established in 1914 to connect local communities to their state’s land grant university. An office serving each county in California responds to the changing needs of its local people, extending research-based information about food, health, agriculture, horticulture and the environment. 

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