Why Do the Palm Trees on Some L.A. Streets All Lean the Same Way?

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Q: I’ve noticed that on streets like Finley Avenue in Los Feliz all the palm trees tend to lean the same way. Why?

A: Palms take their cues from local microclimates and sway in various directions all day. It’s easier to bring water to their leaves if they tip their tops just a little bit.

The trees generally lean away from nearby buildings and into the wind. The palms on Finley tend to bend south.

“Palm trees are always going to lean toward the prevailing breeze,” says urban forester Ken Pfalzgraf. “But maybe they’ve heard good things about Long Beach.”

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