Looking for an inspirational office plant? Look no further than the plant world’s Greatest Survivor, a plant which roamed the earth before the dinosaurs, a plant that is still going strong after 70-million-years. The Washingtonia.
Only a special plant gets named in honour of a US President. Not just any US President but the very first one, George Washington. A native of southwest USA and north Mexico, Washingtonia is the world’s longest living palm. Durable, handsome and striking this “elder statesman” of the plant kingdom has grown in popularity over the years. Washingtonia can be found adorning many of the world’s most attractive avenues in Los Angeles, Barcelona and Cannes.
This versatile tree is not just esthetically pleasing, its design has function as well as form. Native Americans used Washingtonia leaves to make sandals, weave baskets and thatch roofs; now it is being used to create the perfect maintenance-free office plant. The natural structure of the Washingtonia leaf makes it the ideal candidate for the Mummie Plant preservation process. Once preserved the fanned leaf retains all it natural characteristics even down to the natural dried tip of the frond.
The beauty of Washingtonia leaves is that they can be used to create large and small office plants:
1. Preserved Trees. Trees with tall trunks that can be customised to any height and diameter depending on the desired look. These trees provide a dramatic centrepiece for shopping centres or office developments yet they do not require the structural foundations and drainage that would be required if using a live tree. This makes them a cost-effective proposition for fit-out managers working on large scale projects.
2. Tropical Plants. By arranging the leaves onto a smaller trunk a Washingtonia tree becomes a more mobile Washingtonia plant. The fan-like form of its leaves suggests energy and openness. Just one of of the many reasons why Washingtonia has become the quintessential office plant.
