Washingtonia robusta
Family: Arecaceae / Palmae
Washingtonia, Mexican Fan Palm
Origin: Mexico, Florida
Form: tall palm with fan fronds and thin trunk. Size: 75ft or more, frond spread 10-12ft, trunk diameter may be only 12-14in. Leaves: fan 3-4ft wide, petioles are typically toothed, bright green. Flowers: large stalks extend beyond fronds with small white/cream flowers, bloom in early summer. Fruit: pea-sized black/blue seed. Stems/Trunks: distinctively narrow, sways in wind. Hardiness: leaf damage at 20°F, recovers quickly; hard freezes may completely kill even mature specimens Landscape: skyline, tree silhouette, tropical effect Culture: full sun, rapidly grows above all other canopy. Water: moderate, deep, drought tolerant; best on once per month. Propagation: seed from isolated source; hybridizes readily . Maintenance: high; frond removal, trunk shaving, will sometimes self shave if leaves fall off cleanly grows rapidly (6ft per year). When young most people prefer shaved trunk look, frond removal and shaving best done professionally. Tolerates soils and drought. Vulnerable to root rot in wet soils.
