Since its founding, palm trees have been a major focus of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's plant collections.  For over 65 years, botanists and horticulturists have visited tropical forests around the globe to bring back palm seeds, herbarium vouchers, and even DNA samples in an effort to amass as much information about this wonderful plant family as possible.  Those efforts were recognized last March when Fairchild's Arecaceae (palm) collection was named the National Palm Collection by the American Public Garden Association (APGA).

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Under APGA's North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC) program, Fairchild's palms (and palm researchers, educators, horticulturists, and volunteers) were given a thorough review.  NAPCC does not grant member status simply because a garden's collection may be large.  A plant collection must have national significance.  Contributing factors include excellent horticultural care, herbarium and library holdings, updated plant records and labels, nursery capacity, educational programming, and public access.  If Fairchild grew its 550 palm species for display purposes only, it would not have been considered for membership. The number of palms per square foot on public display are the most of anywhere in the world.

Besides walking tours and tram rides, educational components include The Fairchild Challenge, which features palms in several of its educational options, and the Fairchild Guide to Palms, a tremendous resource for both researchers and novice growers. 

Fairchild does not take membership in the NAPCC lightly.  Fairchild will be the leader in building a consortium of palm collection holders throughout North America and overseas, allowing a multi-institutional approach to managing living collections, coordinating conservation efforts, and allowing researchers greater access to plant material and collaboration.  The title, National Palm Collection, also represents the vision and hard work of thousands of people who have been part of the Fairchild family.  More than anything, this recognizes the masterpiece they built.