How tall do Mexican fan palms get?

Mexican Fan Palm Info – Learn About Growing Mexican Fan Palms

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How tall do Mexican fan palms get?

Mexican fan palms are very tall palm trees native to northern Mexico. They are attractive trees with wide, fanning, dark green leaves. They are especially good in landscapes or along roadways where they are free to grow to their full height. Keep reading to learn more about Mexican palm care and how to grow a Mexican fan palm tree.

The Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) is native to the deserts of northern Mexico, though it can be grown through much of the American South and Southwest. The trees are hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11 and Sunset zones 8 through 24. They tend to grow to a height of 80 to 100 feet (24-30 m.). Their leaves are dark green and fan shaped, reaching between 3 and 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) wide.

The trunk is reddish brown, but with time its color fades into gray. The trunk is thin and tapered, and on a mature tree it will go from a diameter of about 2 feet (60 cm.) at the base to 8 inches (20 cm.) at the top. Because of their large size, Mexican fan palm trees aren’t really suited to gardens or small backyards. They also run the risk of breaking and uprooting in hurricane prone areas.

Mexican Palm Care

Growing Mexican fan palms is relatively easy, as long as you’re planting in the right conditions. Although Mexican fan palm trees are native to the desert, they grow naturally in pockets of underground water and are only somewhat drought tolerant.

They like full sun to partial shade and well-draining sand to loam type soil. They can tolerate both slightly alkaline and slightly acidic soil.

They grow at a rate of at least 3 feet (1 m.) per year. Once they reach about 30 feet (9 m.) in height, they often begin to naturally drop their dead leaves, meaning it’s not necessary to prune away old growth.

This article was last updated on 01/22/21

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  1. Home
  2. Plant Types
  3. Palms - Cycads
  4. Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)

Mexican Fan Palm, Southern washingtonia, Mexican Washingtonia, Skyduster, Thread Palm


Fast-growing and very tolerant, Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm) is a tall evergreen palm with a columnar trunk topped with a relatively small rounded crown of beautifully shaped, fan-like, rich green leaves, up to 3-5 ft. long (90-150 cm). Borne on spine-edged petioles, the palmate leaves are divided halfway to the base, with their tips slightly drooping. Unlike other palms, the dead leaves fold down against the trunk rather than dropping off, forming a dense skirt. The unbranched gray trunk is usually slender, 12 in. across (30 cm), but swells considerably at the base. It is ringed by leaf scars and tends to curve a little in tall trees. Small, slightly fragrant, white flowers are produced in huge, hanging sprays, up to 10 ft. long (3 m). They are followed by great quantities of black, pea-sized fruits. Easy to grow and exotic-looking, Washingtonia robusta is fairly hardy but may experience significant frond damage if temperatures dip to 20°F (-6°C). It has a high tolerance for salt and is a good choice for planting near coastlines. It also is very wind resistant. Probably one of the most commonly planted palm trees around the world, the genus honors the first president of the United States. A palm of great ornamental value and an extraordinary accent plant.

  • Grows with an upright habit up to 40-80 ft. tall (12-24 m) and 8-10 ft. wide (2-3 m).
  • Easily grown in well-drained soils in full sun. Drought tolerant.
  • No serious disease or pest issues. Keep an eye out for red spider mites and scale insects.
  • Needs no regular pruning, but dead leaves may be removed by cutting close to the leaf base leaving stubs to create a neat pattern. The 'petticoat' is a fire hazard, and it is necessary to remove the dead fronds in urban settings or if the trees are planted near residences.
  • Propagate by seed.
  • Mexican Fan Palm has become invasive in riparian areas. In parts of central and southern California, it has naturalized itself such that the California Invasive Plant Council considers its impact on native ecosystems a “moderate risk”. The species can be controlled with relative ease by removing the seedlings.
  • Native to Mexico.

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Requirements

Hardiness9 – 11
Heat Zones10 – 12
Climate Zones 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Plant Family Palms - Cycads
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height40' – 80' (12m – 24m)
Spread8' – 10' (240cm – 3m)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Salt
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Mediterranean Garden

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

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Requirements

Hardiness9 – 11
Heat Zones10 – 12
Climate Zones 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Plant Family Palms - Cycads
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height40' – 80' (12m – 24m)
Spread8' – 10' (240cm – 3m)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Salt
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Mediterranean Garden

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Great Plant Combination Ideas with Palms - Cycads

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How high do fan palms grow?

The Fan Palm can reach 20m tall. It has a single trunk, which is quite slender (around 20cm in diameter). But the species is most famous for its leaves. Each plant has 9 to 12 huge, segmented, pleated and almost circular leaves; they resemble a giant pinwheel or fan, hence their common name.

Can you stunt the growth of a Mexican fan palm?

Hi, You can temporarily stunt the palm trees' growth by pruning the roots. The roots need to be at their optimum 'root ball size' for the palm to even grow. "BE ADVISED: This way of stunting the growth on a palm is permanent, and will eventually lead to a dead palm.

How fast does a fan palm tree grow?

A Fast-Growing Tropical Beauty The Mexican Fan Palm grows up to 3 feet a year once established, delivering a tropical look to your garden in no time.