Washingtonia robusta

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southern washingtonia

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southern washingtonia RHS
southern washingtonia RHS
southern washingtonia RHS

Other common names

Mexican fan palm, Mexican washingtonia, skyduster, thread palm

Conservatory Greenhouse Palms
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a tall, fast-growing, evergreen palm with a slender trunk that swells considerably at the base on mature specimens. Large fan-shaped leaves with leaflets up to 1.5m long are borne on spine-edged petioles to 1m long. Long sprays of small white flowers are borne on hanging, branched stems to 3m long and followed by dark brown fruits

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 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
West–facing or South–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
Columnar upright
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
Mexico

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. See palm cultivation indoors

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Architectural

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