California fan palm

California fan palm Care

Washingtonia filifera

What is the plant

Washingtonia filifera, also known as desert fan palm, California fan palm or California palm, is a flowering plant in the palm family native to the US. Growing to 15–20 m tall by 3–6 m broad, it is an evergreen monocot with a tree-like growth habit.

California fan palm is one of the most widely grown palms in subtropical climates. California fan palm can grow 60 ft (18.3 m) tall with a crown spread of 15 ft (4.6 m). The massive gray trunk is barrel shaped and ringed with old leaf scars, and may reach over 3 ft (0.9 m) in diameter at its widest point. California fan palm can have up to thirty gray-green palmate (fan-shaped) leaves, each 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) across. Washingtonia filifera is the only palm native to the Western United States and one of the country's largest native palms, exceeded in height only by the Cuban or Florida royal palm. Washingtonia filifera is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree. Washingtonia filifera typically lives from 80 to 250 years or more. The sweet fruit pulp of the fan palm is edible.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

10°C - 24°C

Hardiness zone

7b - 11b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Once established, California fan palm is drought tolerant, but it benefits greatly with regular watering. For optimal growth, soil should be moist with good drainage.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your Washingtonia every month with a water-soluble fertilizer or granular, timed-release plant food once in early spring. Choose a balanced plant food with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10, giving it equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Sunlight
California fan palm prefers exposure to full sun and even quite small specimens will thrive in full sun. It also grows well in part sun/shade.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
Compost rich soil is best, but it will tolerate most types of soil including loamy and sandy soil. It will also tolerate acidic or alkaline soils.
Temperature
The palm can survive brief temperatures of -10°C (14°F) with minor damage, and established plants have survived, with severe leaf damage, brief periods as low as -12°C (10°F)
Popularity
740 people already have this plant 94 people have added this plant to their wishlists