Washingtonia × filibusta

RHS Plant Profile

Washington palm

RHS 2002

Other common names

Californian washingtonia, cotton palm, desert fan palm, northern washingtonia

Synonyms

Washingtonia 'Filibusta'

Conservatory Greenhouse Palms

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a tree-like palm with a stout trunk to 20m, and arching, narrow-lobed, fan-shaped leaves 2-3m in length; flowers creamy-white, in large panicles

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–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

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Arecaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Washingtonia are large evergreen palms with stout solitary trunks bearing long-stalked, rounded leaves palmately divided into linear segments, and large, arching panicles of flowers, followed by small, berry-like black fruits
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S. California, W. Arizona, Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based compost with equal parts added pulverised bark and organic matter, in bright light but with protection from the sun. Water moderately and provide moderate humidity when in growth and apply a liquid fertiliser monthly during the summer. Water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at not less than 24°C

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free