Mexican Fan Palm

Washingtonia robusta

With its gracefully drooping leaf tips and hula skirt of dried fronds, the Mexican fan palm is the dancing girl of the Arecacea family.

Perhaps the Amazonian dancing girl would be a more accurate description as Washingtonias can grow to 100 feet. A note of caution is in order here. The hula skirt of dead leaves that gives this palm its unique charm is a fire hazard. The expired leaves also provide rats and other undesirables a safe haven.

Some municipalities (mostly in arid regions where the fire risk is more serious) require that the skirts be removed which becomes more expensive as the tree grows. In humid Florida, there is no such requirement but you might want to have it done anyway as loose palm fronds can become dangerous projectiles in a hurricane.

Another note of caution: Florida is the lightening capital of the world. The tallest tree is the one that tends to get struck. Consequently, Mexican fan palms rarely grow to their ultimate height in this state. Despite this, they are popular landscape plants here.

Washingtonia robusta typically blooms in early summer. When the little white flowers mature into black berries the seed inside will be ripe. Mexican fan palm seeds germinate more easily than that of most other palms.

This tree will tolerate poor dry soil but will grow more robustly in composted soil that is kept moist. It prefers sun but will tolerate high shade. It is known to be hard y to 20 degrees F.

Chinese Fan Palm
The Chinese fan palm is commonly seen on both the east and west coasts of the United States. It does not sucker or grow as quickly as most other Livistonas. You can plant several together if you want a clump.

California Fan Palm
The California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) is a close cousin of the W. robusta. It has a thicker trunk and is more cold tolerant--to 10 degrees F.--but it grows poorly in humid or coastal areas. It is a faster grower than most palms but slower than its Mexican cousin.

Queen Palm Tree
With its graceful, feathery fronds, the queen palm tree is popular in tropical areas.

Go from Washingtonia Filifera back to Florida Palm Trees
The best types of Florida palm trees to plant in central and south Florida. Also palm trees native to Florida and the best palm tree for NW Florida.

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