Brahea armata

RHS Plant Profile

blue fan palm

Other common names

big blue hesper palm, blue hesper palm, grey goddess, Mexican blue fan palm, short blue hesper, Franceschi palm, short-arm blue hesper palm

Synonyms

Erythea clara
Erythea armata
Brahea elegans
Brahea roezlii
Erythea elegans

Palms

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An erect palm, up to 15m high, with a single trunk covered by fibrous leaf bases, spiny leaf stalks up to 1.5m long, blue-green waxy leaves, 1-2m across, divided into about 50 lobes, and arching panicles 4m long of showy yellow flowers 1.5cm across in summer, followed by rounded yellow-brown fruit, 2cm long

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Arecaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Brahea is a genus of palms, endemic to Mexico and Central America. Also called hesper palms, they all have large, fan-shaped leaves.
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

In frost-prone areas, grow young specimens in full light as houseplants or under glass at 5-15°C in peat-free, loam-based potting compost, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly while in growth, water sparingly in winter, and pot on or top-dress in spring - for more advice, see palm cultivation indoors; in frost-free areas, grow in well-drained soil in full sun; will tolerate poor, dry soil, and though frost-tender will survive short periods at 0°C - for more advice, see palm cultivation outdoors

Propagation

Sow seed at 23-27°C in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Sub-tropical
Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free