The California Fan palm is one of the most widely grown Florida palm trees. It is also extensively grown naturally and as an ornamental landscape tree in California, Arizona and Mexico. It is similar to the Mexican Fan palm, but it is not so widely cultivated. If trimmed it looks very attractive.

Additional Information:

Scientific name: Washingtonia filifera

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Washingtonia

Name: It is named Washingtonia in honor of the first President of the US George Washington. Filifera is from latin meaning “thread-bearing”.

Other names: Petticoat palm, Desert Fan palm, American Cotton palm, Arizona Fan palm.

Origin: It is native to southern California.

Growth rate: Moderately fast

Trunk: The single, robust trunk can grow up to 60 feet tall. It is thicker and shorter than the Mexican Fan Palm.

Leaves: The fan shaped leaves with sharp spines on edges grow from one spot at the top of the trunk. Compare to the Washingtonia Robusta (Mexican Fan palm) this tree has little bit more larger and more shaggy fronds. When leaves die, they hand down towards the ground and create a natural shaggy “skirt” around the trunk. If they are not removed they cover almost all the trunk. In some counties in California  it is required to remove old dead leaves that can cause  naturally ocurring fire. The “skirts” provide shelters for rats, birds, insects and diseases.

Indoor/Outdoor Use: Outdoor

Maintenance: Low

Light exposure: It loves full sun.

Water requirements: Little to moderate water.

Drought toleration: It is a very drought tolerant tree and grows naturally in desert areas.

Cold toleration: It is a cold hardy palm. It is more cold tolerant that the Mexican fan palm. The palm can tolerate temperature of 15 F.

Flowers: The huge clusters of creamy white flowers come from the among leaves.

Fruits: The round, black, edible fruits ripen in the fall. Each fruit has one seed.

Propagation: It is propagated by seeds. The seeds germinate very easily. Sometimes the seeds come through cracks of sidewalks.

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