Washingtonia filifera

RHS Plant Profile

California fan palm

Other common names

American cotton palm, Arizona fan palm, desert fan palm, petticoat palm

Conservatory Greenhouse Palms

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a medium to large palm, with a robust trunk. The long leaf stalks have sharp teeth near the base, and the fan-shaped, grey-green blades up to 3m long are erect at first, then spreading and arching. Dead foliage remains on the plant, hanging down to clothe the whole trunk. Creamy-white, tubular flowers are produced in huge sprays up to 5m long, usually in summer

Position

Full sun

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

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

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: SW USA (CA & AZ) & NW Mexico (Bajo Clifornia)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost with added leaf mould and sharp sand, in full light. Water moderately, 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

Needs no regular pruning, but dead leaves may be removed by cutting close to the leaf base leaving stubs to create a neat pattern

Pests

Glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects may be troublesome

Diseases

Generally disease-free