The Mexican Fan Palm is a tall, slender fan palm that is native to northwestern Mexico. It is one of the hardiest palm trees and is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It has a fast growth rate, is easy to grow and it is tolerant of drought, wind, humid, tropical conditions and sandy soil. Washingtonia robusta is grown as a park, lawn and specimen tree and it is often used as a street tree. Avenues lined with tall Washingtonias are a spectacular sight. Native to western Sonora and Baja California Sur. Grown in the west coast from northern California southward and along the gulf coast from Texas to Florida and up to the southern and coastal parts of the Carolinas. Hardy in zones 8-12.
Growing Instructions
1. Soak the seed in water for 24 hours.
2. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite.
3. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet.
4. Sow the seeds ¼ inch deep.
5. Water the seeds.
6. The seeds need warm temperatures to germinate (75 degrees F). Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade. Germination tends to be slow. The seeds take from 4 to 15 weeks to germinate. It is faster in warm temperatures.
7. When the seedlings have a few leaves, they can be transplanted.