ExplorePlants

Mexican Fan Palm

Washingtonia robusta

The Mexican Fan Palm is a tall tree with long, fan-shaped leaves. It grows in warm places and is great for providing shade on sunny days!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Mexican Fan Palm has a very tall, slender, greyish-brown trunk often covered by a 'skirt' of dead, dried fronds. Its crown features large, bright green, fan-shaped leaves, giving it a distinctive silhouette.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderArecalesFamilyArecaceaeGenusWashingtonia
Mexican Fan Palm
ornamental trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgebroadleaf_tree trait badgeevergreen trait badge
Mexican Fan Palm

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

It's one of the fastest-growing palm trees in the world!

Its trunk can grow as tall as a 10-story building!

These palms produce thousands of tiny, edible, date-like fruits.

Young Mexican Fan Palms are called 'petticoat palms' for their skirt of fronds.

Special abilities

Ability

Trunk Armor

Mexican Fan Palm has a thick, shaggy 'skirt' of old fronds that protects its slender trunk from sun and injury.

Ability

Desert Thirst Quencher

Mexican Fan Palm can grow incredibly deep roots to find precious water, helping it survive in dry desert oases.

Ability

Wind Dancer

Mexican Fan Palm has flexible leaf stems that allow its fronds to bend and sway, resisting damage from strong winds.

Measurements & details

Height
2000-3500 cm
Spread
300-500 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Its flowers attract and are pollinated by bees.

eaten by

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Its small, date-like fruits provide food.

shelters

Rock Dove

Columba livia

Its fronds provide nesting and roosting sites.

eaten by

Black Rat

Rattus rattus

Opportunistic rodents consume fallen fruits.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Be careful around the sharp edges of the palm leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Mexican Fan Palm?

2000-3500 cm

How wide does Mexican Fan Palm spread?

300-500 cm

How big are the flowers on Mexican Fan Palm?

0.5-1 cm

When does Mexican Fan Palm bloom?

Summer

Is Mexican Fan Palm edible?

Yes

Is Mexican Fan Palm toxic?

None

What is Mexican Fan Palm's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Mexican Fan Palm pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

More Plants