Palms For California

Pronunciation: bra-HEE-uh ar-MAH-tuh

Common Name: Mexican Blue Fan Palm

Brahea armata is a relatively common Mexican native frequently grown in Southern California by both landscapers and private growers alike. This is one of the most drought tolerant, cold tolerant and wind tolerant species that can be grown in southern California, and it is easy to grow, as well as highly ornamental, which is why it so commonly used in both public and private landscaping. It is ideal for the deserts of California and does fairly well along the coast (salty winds have some negative effect upon its appearance). Growing this palm among greener palms and vegetation make it stand out even more. It is a variable plant with some forms being nearly green while the most sought after forms have almost white leaves. Also has very showy flowers that arch outward from middle of crown many feet sometimes down to the ground. Brahea clara, listed separately here, is thought by many scientists as being a different form of the same species.

Morphology (Identification) Habit: solitary with a crown of about 40 leaves Height: 50 feet Trunk: up to 3' in diameter, mostly clean but dead leaves are retained in younger palms, or near the top of the trunk of older ones. Leaf description: palmate to mildly costapalmate; 6'-8' long; pale blue-green to sea green or sometimes whitish; stiff and waxy coated (leaflets rarely droop, or not much); leaves divided about 1/3 leaf length Spread: 6'-10' Petiole: armed with hooked, sharp yellowish teeth; dense layer of scurf; unsplit leaf base on trunk Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: extremely long and droopy, sometimes arching to the ground; yellow and highly branched Fruit: 2cm; green initially, turning yellow and eventually maturing to black Seed: 1-1.2cm and spherical

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temperature: 15F Speed of Growth: very slow at first, but moderate once a trunk has formed Drought Tolerance: very drought tolerant Wind Tolerance: high Heat Tolerance: high Salt Tolerance: low Soil Preference: very tolerant of a wide variety of soils, including heavy clay Light Requirement: full sun Human Hazards: sharp, hooked teeth on petioles Disease Problems: few in California though prone to bud rot if it is exposed to tap water in cold weather Transplant?: once trunk forms very touchy when transplanted and difficult (as are most Braheas) Availability: fairly commonly available, even at larger outlet nurseries