They’re a favorite with builders who want to give a finished look to a newly constructed home, and with homeowners who want more instant gratification.
And for people who want only the most cold-tolerant of plants, the washingtonia is your palm.
These are the some of the most cold hardy of all South Florida palms…growing even north of Florida in Zone 8.
Unfortunately, Mexican fan palms, as they’re also called – though big, fat and gorgeous while young – tend to lose their good looks (don’t we all) with age.
The thick trunk of the youthful palm thins, and a “petticoat” of dried fronds under the green ones on top is not everyone’s idea of palm beauty.
Left in a natural state, browned fronds of a washingtonia palm will form a very long “hula skirt” of thatch. Most people, however, prefer a cleaner look and trim off old fronds fairly often. Once the palm is too tall to reach, leave the old fronds on or hire someone to trim.
“Boots” (old leaf bases) are a bright and attractive red-brown while the palm is young. As they age, you can remove them by hand or leave them on (they’ll fall off on their own eventually) to form a spiky decoration above the smooth trunk.
Washingtonias are happier in a less humid climate than ours, so pick a sunny, well-drained place where the palm will get good breezes. Soil amendments aren’t really necessary.
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