Mexican Fan Palms - Cold Hardy Palm Trees

Mexican Fan palm trees are cold hardy to 18 degrees (lower depending on the age and growth of the cold hardy palm tree),  Mexican Fan palm trees can grow up to 100 feet tall.  The following is detailed information on the cold hardy Mexican Fan palm.

Mexican Fan palm trees (Washingtonia robusta) have many fine attributes including salt resistance and fast rate of growth. Cold hardy Mexican Fan Palms have tall slender trunks topped with crowns of large fan-shaped evergreen fronds.

Cold Hardy Mexican Fan Palms Overview

Soaring to over 100 ft (30.5 m), this skyscraper of the palm world is a striking sight.

Mexican Fan Palms have:

• A gray trunk ringed with closely set leaf scars although usually at least part of the trunks remain covered with dead leaves that hang in a thatch.
• The solitary trunks, about 10-12 in (25.4-30.5 cm) in diameter, bulge at the ground and become slender as they approach a crown of large palmate leaves with gracefully drooping leaflet tips.

Cold Hardy Mexican Fan Palms Description

Large, rapid growing, and hardy all describe the Mexican Fan Palms.   Native to the riparian washes and gullies of Northern Mexico, Baja, Southern California and Arizona Mexican Fan Palm trees are very drought and salt tolerant once established.  Adapted to a wide range of soil types, and climates.  This species easily hybridizes with the California/Desert Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) and a wide variation in phenotypes (outward appearance and growth characteristics) occurs under cultivated conditions.

Mexican Fan Palms Usage

This is a spectacular palm for landscaping large areas.  Mexican Fan palm trees are also frequently seen guarding the entrances to upscale housing developments and standing in regiments along boulevards.