Washingtonia robusta Seeds | Mexican Fan Palm
LATIN NAME: Washingtonia robusta
COMMON NAME: Mexican Fan Palm, Skyduster, Mexican Washingtonia
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) is a tall, slender palm in the palm family, native to sonoran desert along the baja california peninsula in northwestern Mexico. The Mexican fan palm is one of tallest and most graceful palms of desert, and its soaring trunk and fan of fronds define skyline of warm southwest. In summer it bears long, arching sprays of small, cream flowers, followed by clusters of small, black fruits, and it is one of the most widely planted palms in the warm regions of the world. Established plants reach around Thirty metres. The flowering period doubles as a feeding season for bees and other pollinators. Not many plants ask so little and repay so much.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the palm family, Washingtonia robusta draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Fruits have also been studied for their traditional uses by peoples of the region. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Mexican Fan Palm brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Ecologically, the Mexican fan palm is a generous tree of warm city and the desert. Its cream flowers feed bees and other pollinators, its black fruits feed birds, and its tall crown gives shelter and roosting sites, while in its native desert it is a landmark for wildlife. Its economic value lies mainly in horticulture. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
A tree like this repays patience for decades: it cools and shelters its surroundings, hosts birds and insects, and stores carbon in timber that outlives its planter.
Growing from Seed
Raising Mexican Fan Palm from seed is straightforward. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. When the young plants are big enough to handle, space them into pots or a nursery row and let them size up before their final move.
Our Take
Being a tall, slender palm, it asks for a permanent spot and repays it yearly. Fresh seed sown into evenly moist compost is most of the battle won.
Related Reading
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