Common Name(s): Mexican Fan Palm

Synonym(s):

Family: Arecaceae

Native To: Sonora and Baja California, Mexico

Native Habitat: Rocky ravines, canyons and sandy oases

Growth Habit: Tall single-stemmed trees

Flowering: Late spring through summer

Distinguishing Characteristics: The species name, robusta, is Latin for "robust" or "stout". Washingtonia robusta is a tall, slender palm to 100 ft. high with a tapering trunk that noticeably flares at the base. This plant is a member of the same genus as the California fan palm. Compared with W. filifera, W. robusta is usually taller but with a less massive trunk. These two species may also hybridise. Leaves are fan shaped and glossy. When not pruned, the dead dry older leaves hang down the trunk in shaggy layers. Long inflorescences of small fleshy flowers are produced in the late spring, and followed by black-brown fruits. Large amounts of seeds are set, and can introduce many unwanted seedlings into the landscape.

Natural History and Cultivation Notes:

Ethnobotany: Fresh fruits are edible. A commonly cultivated ornamental in southwest Arizona and areas with similar climates.

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