Are yucca palm trees оr true palms?

Botanically, palms belong to Arecaceae (previously Palmae), a family of monocotyledonous plants. Their characteristic shape usually makes them easy to recognize, although they may sometimes be confused with Yuccas, Cordylines or Bananas.

There are over 200 genera comprising 2,000 to 2,500 species (depending on your botanical view), with more being discovered all the time. Palms from an integral and important part of the vegetation of the tropics and subtropics, however, not all species grow in deserts or on white, sandy beaches as is popularly supposed. The great majority grow deep in the gloomy rainforest and perhaps never see the sun, certainly not as young plants, and some will tolerate even quite deep shade.

Further there are many species that grow a long way from the tropics, and it comes as a surprise to many people to discover that, far from needing heat and humidity to grow well, a good number of palms actually prefer cool climates, and will thrive outdoors in temperature areas such as the UK.

More and more people like to grow palms, either in their home or greenhouse, or - increasingly - their garden. They are rapidly gaining in popularity and are now considered an essential component of today's modern home or garden.