brahea
( bra - HEH - uh )
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At-A-Glance InformationThis genus of palms, commonly called Hesper Palms, needs full sun and little or no water once established. They are native to Mexico and are considered to be a type of 'Fan Palm', as all species have large, fan-shaped leaves. These palms are considered slow-growers, putting on about 6 inches of growth each year. Flowers are produced on mature individuals in summertime, blooming in large fragrant inflorescences.
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Brahea Species and Varietals
The genus Brahea is a member of the plant family Arecaceae and includes just 11 species. The generic name honors Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. The best growing zones for Brahea vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Brahea aculeata Native to the states of Sinaloa, Durango, and Sonora in Mexico, these fan palms are considered threatened with extinction due to climate change and habitat loss. Individual trees reach between 6 and 29 feet tall at maturity, with serrated leaf stalks attaching to the trunk as it grows upward. Flowers are small and cream-colored to white, blooming in large inflorescences towards the top of the tree in late wintertime. |
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Brahea armata (Mexican Blue Palm, Blue Hesper Palm) This species is best in zones 12-17, 19-24 and H1. Mexican Blue Palms are endemic to Baja California, Mexico. These trees are hardy down to 18 degrees Fahrenheit and reach 20-40 feet tall and 25 feet wide at maturity. Leaves are silvery-blue, almost white. Flowers are cream colored and somewhat conspicuous. This species handles heat and wind well. |
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Brahea calcarea This species of Hesper Palm is native to Guatemala and Mexico, and is threatened with extinction due to habitat loss. These medium-sized palms are also considered rare in cultivation. They can reach 40 feet tall when mature, can take moderate frost conditions and handle drought well. |
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Brahea dulcis (Sweet Hesper Palm, Apak Palm) These trees are native to dry woodland areas in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras. They produce glossy green to blue-green fronds and edible sweet fruits that are commonly consumed in their native range. These trees can reach 25 feet tall when mature. Flowers are inconspicuous and white to cream-colored, blooming in late winter to early springtime. |
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Brahea edulis (Guadalupe Palm, Palma de Guadalupe) This species grows well in zones 12-24 and is hardy to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It is native to the Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California, reaching 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Handles hot beach and desert conditions. When old leaves drop, they leave behind a stout, rough and scarred trunk. |
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Brahea elegans (Fransceschi Palm) This species is best in zones 13-17 and 19-24. It is hardy to 22 degrees Fahrenheit and reaches 10-15 feet tall. Leaves are grey-green. Sometimes confused with (and sold under the botanical name of) Brahea armata. |
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Brahea nitida This species reaches 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide and is hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Its glossy green leaves are grey-green underneath. |
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Caring for and pruning brahea Trees
Choose a sunny spot in your landscape to plant your Hesper Palm. They can handle partial shade, but will grow more quickly in a spot where they can get between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day. The best time to plant is in spring or summertime, when the trees are actively putting on new growth. These palms can grow to have quite a large crown, so ensure that there is ample space available. Soil should be well-draining, or amended to be so before installing these trees. Sandy or loamy soils are ideal, but these palms can adapt well to most soils as long as they do not get waterlogged. Water newly installed trees regularly to keep the soil moist but not sopping wet. Deep waterings will encourage a deeper root system to become established. Apply mulch around the bae of the tree to help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth. Ensure that mulch stays 4-6 inches away from the trunk to prevent fungal disease.
If soil is particularly poor or if the palm is struggling, it may be beneficial to apply a feeding in spring or summer with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Hesper Palms can be fertilized with fertilizers specifically made for palms, or those in the area of a 8-2-12 or 6-1-8 ratio with added Magnesium, Iron and Sulfur. Avoid over-fertilizing, as doing so can damage the tree. Remove dead or damaged fronds to maintain the Hesper Palm's appearance and health. The best time to do larger prunings is between late winter and early springtime, just before new growth begins to emerge for the year. These palms are not self-cleaning. Removing dead or diseased foliage will also increase air flow around the crown, which will keep the tree in good health.
If soil is particularly poor or if the palm is struggling, it may be beneficial to apply a feeding in spring or summer with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Hesper Palms can be fertilized with fertilizers specifically made for palms, or those in the area of a 8-2-12 or 6-1-8 ratio with added Magnesium, Iron and Sulfur. Avoid over-fertilizing, as doing so can damage the tree. Remove dead or damaged fronds to maintain the Hesper Palm's appearance and health. The best time to do larger prunings is between late winter and early springtime, just before new growth begins to emerge for the year. These palms are not self-cleaning. Removing dead or diseased foliage will also increase air flow around the crown, which will keep the tree in good health.
Propagation
Brahea are best propagated from seed. Some species of Hesper Palms produce male and female flowers on separate trees, and therefore for viable seeds to be produced, a male and female tree need to be planted within around 50-70 feet of each other. To propagate your palm, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Brahea by Seed
Propagating Brahea by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. Pick up fruits that have dropped, and place them in your paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. Once you are ready to sow, take the fruits out, cut them open, and remove the seed inside. Rinse the seeds to remove all fruit flesh, and set them in a bowl of lukewarm water. Leave seeds for about a day in the bowl, and then set them out to dry.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes a few months from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Hesper Palm fruits.
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Fruits will brown and turn wrinkly before they drop from the tree, at which point they are ripe and seeds can be removed and sown.
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Problems and Pests
Brahea trees are relatively pest and disease-resistant, though they can have some issues with the following:
- Scale Insects
- Mealybugs
- Spider Mites
- Leaf Spot
- Root Rot
Gallery
Flowers produced by Hesper Palms are white to cream in color and fragrant.
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When these palms are young, they need a lot of space for their crowns to grow.
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Blue-foliage species stand out in the landscape.
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Here, a Brahea takes full sun while providing shade for other plants below.
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A young Hesper Palm alongside Senecio and Euphorbia in a planting strip.
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Hesper Palms make a statement next to walkways. Here, one is planted amongst other palms, Tradescantia, and Cordia.
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Videos
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Choosing between two blue palms.
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Learn about Brahea fruits.
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Learn about these interesting palms.
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Deciding between Brahea armata and Brahea clara.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 203, Brahea
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