MEXICAN FAN PALM

It has a single gray trunk ringed by old leaf bases, about 13 inches in diameter. The Mexican Fan Palm requires some maintenance to keep its attractive look.

Old leaves need to be trimmed, otherwise, the trunk will be sheathed in dead leaves, that form a brown, shaggy covering, also called a “hula skirt”, that extends nearly to the ground. The trunk is straight, a little swollen at the base, has no crown shaft, topped with a crown of 20-25 large fronds.

Leaves are rich glossy green, palmate, or fan-shaped, about 5ft long and 4ft wide. They have lance-shaped leaflets with elegant drooping tips that provide a very tropical appearance to the landscape. The petioles of mature palms are armed with short, sharp thorns. Be careful when trimming.

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast. Washingtonia robusta is a fast-growing palm that can get up to 50 – 60 ft tall and 5-10ft wide but usually is not taller than 40ft.

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast. Washingtonia robusta is a fast-growing palm that can get up to 50 – 60 ft tall and 5-10ft wide but usually is not taller than 40ft.

​Outdoor/Indoor Use: Both.

​Cold Tolerance: Mexican Fan Palm is cold hardy and can tolerate cold down to 15F but a temperature lower than 23F might damage leaves. It is great for growing in USDA Zones 8b (15 to 20 F) to 11 (above 40 F).

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Light Req: Full sun to partial shade. The Mexican Fan Palm needs growth best in full sun but will tolerate some shade while young.

​Water Req: Moderate. It can also tolerate drought but grows much faster when receiving plenty of water. It likes moist well-drained soil.

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Durability: Resistant to pests and diseases.

Flowers/Fruits: In the late spring, the Mexican Fan Palm produces small creamy flowers. Flowers grow in clusters on the branched inflorescence 8-10ft long that extends past the leaves. Flowers are followed by black berry-like drupes, about 1/2 inches in diameter. Fruits are edible, though thin-fleshed. They are sweet and taste like dates and can be dried or made into jelly.