Washingtonia robusta
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- wah-shing-TOH-nee-ah roh-BUS-tah
- Description
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Mexican fan palm is a tall, fast-growing perennial in the palm family (Arecaceae). It is native to northwest Mexico but has naturalized in parts of Florida, California, Hawaii, Louisiana and Texas. The genus name honors the first president of the United States, Gen. George Washington. The species epithet is Latin for “robust.”
Mexican fan palm is easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to partial sun. It is a drought-, wind- and salt-tolerant palm. Leaf damage can occur at 20 degrees F. Although native to dry areas, this palm will grow faster with access to constant moisture. It will, however, quickly succumb in constantly wet, anaerobic soils.
The Mexican fan palm has a columnar trunk that can reach up to 100 feet tall with a round crown of fan-shaped leaves that can grow 3 to 5 feet long. Rather than dropping off, dead leaves fold down against the trunk giving it a dense skirt. These are sometimes removed to prevent a fire hazard, but if left in place, they are excellent roosts for owls, bats and other beneficial wildlife. As the tree grows taller it may become self-pruning. Research has shown that tall palms in the northern hemisphere lean toward the south, and those growing in the southern hemisphere lean toward the north.
It is often used in coastal plantings, but because of its height, it looks best in lawns with tall buildings or houses. It is also used in parking lots or as a street tree. It tolerates urban conditions and would be a good choice for a rain garden, arid garden or tropical garden.
Problems: Potassium deficiency can cause leaflet tip necrosis, leaf discoloration, and premature death of the oldest leaves. Few insect problems but watch for spider mites and scale. Fungus diseases can cause trunk rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Washingtonia
- Species:
- robusta
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Distribution:
- Florida, California, Hawaii and Texas.
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible but thin fleshed
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Many black pea-sized fruits are produced. Birds will eat the fruits and disperse the seeds (which is how the palm has naturalized outside its native habitat).
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small cream-colored flowers in large drooping clusters are slightly fragrant in June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Rich green palmate leaves are up to 3=5 feet long and 4 feet wide and are divided halfway to the base. The tips are slightly drooping
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The reddish-brown trunk is ringed with closely set leaf scars that weathers to a light gray.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- 3 ft long green leaf stems are edged with orange saw-tooth spines
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
- Wind