Highland Avenue is one of Hollywood 's most famous streets. Beginning at Melrose Avenue and continuing southward, a median island delineates the north and southbound traffic lanes. The median is irrigated and landscaped.

Towering over the street and island are two types of Palm trees, Mexican Fan and Queen. The Mexican Fan Palm is perhaps Los Angeles ' most recognizable iconic tree. Its deep green fan-shaped fronds and extreme height make it one of the first things people view when they enter the City. The Queen Palm has longer more elegant fronds of a lighter shade of green. The contrast between the different frond shapes and the height the different specie obtain, give this stretch of Highland Avenue a unique character.

The palm trees are listed on the City's Historical Cultural Monument list.