The famous palm tree at the De Gaulle Roundabout in Warsaw will soon cease to be a solitary island amidst the concrete. Work has just begun on transforming the area around it, where, instead of around 500 square metres of tarmac, there will soon be thousands of plants, artificial mounds and a tropical-inspired landscape. The work is due to be completed in November this year.
500 square metres of concrete is being removed from the roundabout
Work began on 4 September 2026 – in line with earlier announcements by the City Roads Authority. The central island of the de Gaulle Roundabout is gradually being cleared of unnecessary surfacing. In total, around 500 square metres of concrete will be removed, leaving only small bays required by the emergency services, including the police. The roundabout itself will remain open to traffic whilst the works are underway. The redevelopment is ultimately set to completely transform the appearance of one of the capital’s landmarks, which is undeniably the palm tree. The Municipal Roads Authority describes the roundabout’s future appearance as an urban oasis.
The palm tree at the Rondo de Gaulle is set to get its own ‘tropical haven’
The project involves planting around 7,000 perennials and bulbous plants. Small artificial mounds will appear at the centre of the composition. These will be planted with feather grass and verbena, so that they resemble small islands rising above the ‘ocean’. The rest of the levelled area will be planted mainly with sage and catnip. Their colour scheme is intended to evoke associations with water. The design was developed with reference to the existing palm tree, and the vision of its creator, Joanna Rajkowska, was also taken into account during the design work.
The palm tree at the de Gaulle Roundabout
The famous palm tree ‘sprang up’ at the De Gaulle Roundabout on 12 December 2002 as part of Joanna Rajkowska’s project ‘Greetings from Aleje Jerozolimskie’. The artist was inspired by a trip to Israel, and the installation was initially intended to remain in the capital for just one year. Ultimately, the 15-metre-tall artificial plant became a permanent feature of the city’s landscape, and the people of Warsaw grew fond of it. One of the many interesting facts about the palm tree dates back to 2004, when maintenance issues led to the removal of its worn-out leaves – for about half a year, only a lonely trunk stood on the roundabout.
A change ahead of a major redevelopment
The greening of the de Gaulle Roundabout also has a broader context. For several years now, Warsaw has been taking steps to reclaim space taken up by concrete and increase the amount of greenery in the city centre. The roundabout itself, however, may undergo a much more significant transformation in the future. Earlier concepts for the redevelopment of Aleje Jerozolimskie envisaged the removal of the roundabout and its replacement with a conventional junction. This far-reaching modernisation is linked to planned changes in the area of Warsaw’s cross-city line.
For the time being, however, the palm tree remains in place. Rather than waiting idly for a major redevelopment, the city has decided to transform its immediate surroundings. By autumn, the concrete island is set to be transformed into a green landscape comprising thousands of plants.
Source:zdm.waw.pl
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