washingtonia
( wosh - ing - TOE - nee - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationThis genus of low-maintenance palms includes trees that need full sun and little to regular water to perform well. These palms have large, fanning fronds that top a slim, straight trunk. Washingtonias are fast-growing and usually too tall for most gardens, but are great for larger properties, commercial areas, or parks. They also make fantastic street trees. The genus is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Use these palms to add a tropical effect to landscapes, to line paths or boundary lines, or around pools.
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washingtonia Species and Varietals
The genus Washingtonia includes two species and a hybrid and is a member of the plant family Arecaceae. The genus Washingtonia was named for the first president of the United States, and grows best in zones 8-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) Native to California and Arizona, these trees are hardy down to 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and reach 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide. They have light green leaves supported by long stalks which bend down to form a skirt as they fade. Their native habitat is in deserts close to water sources. |
Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm, Mexican Washingtonia, Southern Washingtonia) This species of palm is native to Mexico and does well down to temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They can reach upwards of 100 feet tall and spread to just 10 feet wide. Trunks can be slightly bent, and foliage is bright green, with red streaks on the undersides. |
Caring for and pruning washingtonia Trees
Plant your Washingtonia palm in full sun. These trees prefer to receive bright sun for between 6 and 8 hours each day. They will grow and perform best in this exposure. They prefer to be planted in loamy or sandy soils that are well-draining. If local soils are particularly clayey or poor in nutrients, amend the planting site with plenty of organic material and/or sand before installing. These trees are susceptible to developing fungal root issues if left in standing water for too long. For Washingtonia palms, the soil pH should be within the acidic to alkaline range (between 6.1 and 9.2). They can take salty soils well, making them a good option for coastal zones. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and help to regulate soil temperatures. Water newly planted palms regularly while they establish a healthy, strong root system. These are drought-tolerant palms when mature, and it is best to let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Once soil is dry, deep water.
Pruning these trees is simple; in late winter or early springtime, remove any spent fronds if desired. They will collect around the base of the trees' living leaves as they grow, and form a skirt. They will begin to fall away with age, which have the ability to cause some liability issues if the trees are tall. Removing them as they become brown can help to keep the palm clean and prevent a fire hazard from developing. If the palm has grown to be quite large, a professional pruning crew will need to be hired to prune off dead fronds. These palms do not produce suckers. Washingtonia palms are fast-growing and appreciate being fertilized yearly with an application of an organic compost. If trees are not growing as quickly as they should be, or if they seem to be struggling otherwise, they may benefit from a feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer specifically made for Palms in springtime. As with other rapidly growing plants, these palms can sometimes have issues with a potassium deficiency, and ensuring that these trees are fertilized each year can go a long way in preventing this problem. During wintertime, withhold fertilizer and slow down on waterings.
Growing Washingtonia Palm in Containers
These palms, despite their extremely large mature size, can be grown in containers well. Containers should be sturdy and have great drainage holes on the bottom. Ensure that the soil is well-draining as well before planting; if it is not, amend with sand or perlite to make it so. These palms will need to be watered more frequently than those in the ground, so make sure to irrigate every time the soil dries out. When these palms outgrow their container, repot them into larger ones.
Pruning these trees is simple; in late winter or early springtime, remove any spent fronds if desired. They will collect around the base of the trees' living leaves as they grow, and form a skirt. They will begin to fall away with age, which have the ability to cause some liability issues if the trees are tall. Removing them as they become brown can help to keep the palm clean and prevent a fire hazard from developing. If the palm has grown to be quite large, a professional pruning crew will need to be hired to prune off dead fronds. These palms do not produce suckers. Washingtonia palms are fast-growing and appreciate being fertilized yearly with an application of an organic compost. If trees are not growing as quickly as they should be, or if they seem to be struggling otherwise, they may benefit from a feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer specifically made for Palms in springtime. As with other rapidly growing plants, these palms can sometimes have issues with a potassium deficiency, and ensuring that these trees are fertilized each year can go a long way in preventing this problem. During wintertime, withhold fertilizer and slow down on waterings.
Growing Washingtonia Palm in Containers
These palms, despite their extremely large mature size, can be grown in containers well. Containers should be sturdy and have great drainage holes on the bottom. Ensure that the soil is well-draining as well before planting; if it is not, amend with sand or perlite to make it so. These palms will need to be watered more frequently than those in the ground, so make sure to irrigate every time the soil dries out. When these palms outgrow their container, repot them into larger ones.
Propagation
Washingtonia, or Mexican Fan Palm, is best propagated through seeds. To propagate your palm tree, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Washingtonia by Seed
Propagating Washingtonia 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 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds produced by Washingtonia plants are contained inside of the fruits produced by trees once they reach maturity and there are male and female trees in close proximity to one another. Fruits are typically dark in color with a bluish bloom, maturing in late summer to early fall.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot. Cover them with soil and water. 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 3-inch 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.
Problems and Pests
Washingtonia palms are considered to be invasive in Florida, California, and Hawaii, so check with local authorities before planting. If it is considered to be invasive in your area, it is a better idea to look for a native alternative so as to not disrupt the surrounding local flora and fauna. Washingtonia palms suffer from the following pests and diseases:
- Fusarium Wilt
- Pink Rot
- Spider Mites
- Scale Insects
- Potassium Deficiency
- Trunk Rot
Gallery
Videos
Learn how to grow these palms successfully.
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Propagating camellias
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 653, Washingtonia
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