Southern Washingtonia

Also known as the Mexican fan palm, Washingtonia robusta is a tender, fast growing, evergreen palm for container growing. It needs to be overwintered in a greenhouse but can be grown outside in summer, giving an exotic, tropical appearance to a sheltered garden. It has a rather narrow habit, and attractive, fan-shaped, green leaves with very long leaflets. The trunk, initially slender, swells out at the base on mature specimens. Long sprays of white flowers on drooping, branched stems are followed by deep brown fruits.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Well-drained, loamy, slightly acid to neutral soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: All year
Hardiness: Tender
Height: 40’ (12m) Spread: 13’ (4m) in 10-20 years

Photos by Kim Starr, Alejandro Tamayo, and Em?ke Dénes, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and 2.0.

The Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) is a great choice for container growing. In summer, keep it outside in a sheltered spot with full sun for that tropical look. Use well-drained, loamy soil that’s a bit acidic to neutral. Since it’s tender, overwinter it in a greenhouse. It has fan-shaped leaves that add an exotic touch. The trunk grows and changes as the plant matures. Keep an eye on the position, soil type, and sunlight to ensure it grows well all year. Just follow these simple steps for a beautiful Mexican fan palm in your garden.