Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Baja California and Sonora, Mexico (desert oases). It grows 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall and 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -7 °C (19 °F). Space plants about 3.5 m (11 ft) apart.
Plan Mexican fan palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Mexican fan palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 10–20 m (33–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) |
| Spacing | 3.5 m (11 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -7 °C (19 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 44 °C (111 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Baja California and Sonora, Mexico (desert oases) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇲🇦 Morocco |
| Invasive in | US (California, Cal-IPC Moderate), Australia (environmental weed), South Africa (NEMBA listed): check local rules before planting |
Is Mexican fan palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not considered toxic; the spiny leaf stalks can cause injuries.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Mexican fan palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Mexican fan palm in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (5 plants)
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (1 plants)
Questions about Mexican fan palm
- How far apart should I plant Mexican fan palm?
- About 3.5 m (11 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft).
- Does Mexican fan palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Mexican fan palm need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Mexican fan palm?
- It tolerates about -7 °C (19 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- When does Mexican fan palm flower?
- From about May for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Mexican fan palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not considered toxic; the spiny leaf stalks can cause injuries.
- What grows well with Mexican fan palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Mexican fan palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
- USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Fast, very tall slender palm; the dead frond skirt left on the trunk is highly flammable and shelters pests, so it is usually trimmed.
- Spread by seeds in warm regions and a declared weed in several of them.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons
- Clustering fishtail palm Caryota mitis