Difference between revisions of "Washingtonia robusta"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor
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<div style="background: #e5a178; border: 1px solid black; padding: 5px; margin: 3px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-size: 120%;">Appearance and Biology</div>
 
<div style="background: #e5a178; border: 1px solid black; padding: 5px; margin: 3px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-size: 120%;">Appearance and Biology</div>
 
<div style="padding-left: 1em;">
 
<div style="padding-left: 1em;">
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*'''Habit''': solitary
+
*'''Habit''': solitary with dense crown (under ideal conditions) of about 30 leaves
 
*'''Height''': 100 feet
 
*'''Height''': 100 feet
 
*'''Trunk''': partial or complete retained dead leaf petticoat except in very old palms usually clean (in cultivation usually pruned clean or closely thatched); 16"-24" thick, grey (reddish when recently pruned); often leaning toward the west when very tall
 
*'''Trunk''': partial or complete retained dead leaf petticoat except in very old palms usually clean (in cultivation usually pruned clean or closely thatched); 16"-24" thick, grey (reddish when recently pruned); often leaning toward the west when very tall
 
*'''Spread''': 6'-8'
 
*'''Spread''': 6'-8'
−
*'''Leaf Shape''': palmate
+
*'''Leaf Description''': palmate to barely costapalmate; 6'-7' long; deep green and glossy when mature; leaves stiff until maturing at which time leaflets tend to droop; cottony fibers associated with leaflets
−
*'''Petiole''': long (about equal to rachis) and heavily armed with large, very sharp teeth
+
*'''Petiole''': long 5'-6' (about equal to rachis) and heavily armed with large, very sharp teeth mildly to severely hooked; leaf bases split upon trunk
−
*'''Foliage''': deep, somewhat shiny green, stiff as young palm, but leaflets developing characteristic droopiness with age; some cottony fibers
+
 
*'''Reproduction''': monoecious and 'rampant'
 
*'''Reproduction''': monoecious and 'rampant'
 
*'''Inflorescence''': long, arching, dark brown
 
*'''Inflorescence''': long, arching, dark brown
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File:Washingtonias leaning Pasadena.jpg|tall trees leaning west
 
File:Washingtonias leaning Pasadena.jpg|tall trees leaning west
 
File:Washingtonia thatched trunk.JPG|close up of thatched trunk trimming
 
File:Washingtonia thatched trunk.JPG|close up of thatched trunk trimming
 +
File:Windy palm 5.JPG|400px]]
 +
File:Washingtonia skirt from below.JPG|petticoat from below
 +
File:Washingtonias in ravine TO wilderness.JPG|naturalized in Ventura county
 +
File:Washingtonias with and without skirt.JPG|palm with and without a skirt
 +
File:Washys skirts LA arb.jpg|petticoated palms in Los Angeles arboretum
 +
File:Washingtonia shot new camera larb.JPG|mature palms
 +
File:Washingtonia trunk pruned to thatch.JPG|pruned to tight thatch
 +
File:Washingtonia mall 2.jpg|around the mall
 +
File:Washingtonia curved in vegas.JPG|somewhat stunted in Las Vegas
 +
File:Washingtonia teeth.JPG|petiolar teeth
 +
File:Washingtonia leaf bases.JPG|leaf bases
 +
File:Washingtonia trunk roots.jpg|roots
 +
File:Washingtonia roots covering curb.jpg|roots covering curb
 +
File:Washingtonia hacked.JPG|'hacked'
 +
File:Washingtonias overpruned nearby.JPG|overpruned
 +
File:Washingtonias fried Palmdale.jpg|fried from frost in Antelope Valley
 +
File:Washington fronds in street after winds Reseda.jpg|after winds, San Fernando Valley, California
 +
File:Washingtonia trash.JPG|typical post trimming trash
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
[[Category: Washingtonia]]
 
[[Category: Washingtonia]]

Revision as of 16:07, 5 August 2014

Pronunciation: wash-ing-TOE-nee-uh roe-BUST-uh


Common Name: Mexican Fan Palm, Feather Duster Palm

Washingtonia robusta is probably the most commonly grown palm in the US and one of the most recognizable palms in the world.

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with dense crown (under ideal conditions) of about 30 leaves
  • Height: 100 feet
  • Trunk: partial or complete retained dead leaf petticoat except in very old palms usually clean (in cultivation usually pruned clean or closely thatched); 16"-24" thick, grey (reddish when recently pruned); often leaning toward the west when very tall
  • Spread: 6'-8'
  • Leaf Description: palmate to barely costapalmate; 6'-7' long; deep green and glossy when mature; leaves stiff until maturing at which time leaflets tend to droop; cottony fibers associated with leaflets
  • Petiole: long 5'-6' (about equal to rachis) and heavily armed with large, very sharp teeth mildly to severely hooked; leaf bases split upon trunk
  • Reproduction: monoecious and 'rampant'
  • Inflorescence: long, arching, dark brown
  • Fruit: spherical dark brown; 1cm
  • Seed: 4-5mm spherical black
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 20F, though moderate leaf burn at 25F
  • Drought Tolerance: very high
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: very high
  • Wind Tolerance: very high
  • Salt Tolerance: good
  • Growth Rate: very fast (fastest palm in California and one of the fastest in the world)
  • Soil Preference: extremely tolerant of a wide range of soil types
  • Light Requirement: full sun, though can grow well in deep shade for years
  • Human Hazards: falling leaves in winds dangerous to both pedestrians and cars; profuse seed production makes sidewalks slippery; petiolar teeth make pruning hazardous; dead petticoats are fire hazard and hiding place for vermin
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: few
  • Indoor?: performs moderately well if bright light available, but a dangerous indoor palm

  • Los Angeles arboretum

  • clean trunk and full petticoat looks

  • skirts to ground

  • crown and trunk

  • Los Angeles arboretum

  • Los Angeles arboretum

  • street trees

  • tall trees leaning west

  • close up of thatched trunk trimming

  • 400px]]

  • petticoat from below

  • naturalized in Ventura county

  • palm with and without a skirt

  • petticoated palms in Los Angeles arboretum

  • mature palms

  • pruned to tight thatch

  • around the mall

  • somewhat stunted in Las Vegas

  • petiolar teeth

  • leaf bases

  • roots

  • roots covering curb

  • 'hacked'

  • overpruned

  • fried from frost in Antelope Valley

  • after winds, San Fernando Valley, California

  • typical post trimming trash

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