Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which palms can grow in deserts when underground water is available?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Dense grove of acai palm trees (Euterpe oleracea) with slender trunks and abundant green fronds growing on Combu Island in Belem, Para, Brazil. — Palm Wild acai palms (*Euterpe oleracea*) growing on Combu Island in Belem, state of Para in Brazil.

Certain palm species are capable of growing in desert environments provided that underground water is available to support them. According to botanical records, the following palms are known to inhabit such areas:

Doum palm (Hyphaene species)
Washingtonia (often referred to as the desert palm)
Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera)

These palms have adapted to survive in arid regions by accessing subterranean water sources, which allows them to thrive despite the harsh surface conditions typical of deserts.12