Botanical Name: Brahea armata
Common Name: Mexican Blue Palm Type of Plant: monocot: treelike Character evergreen Habit of Growth: Overall Shape an erect, single-trunked, non-self-cleaning fan palm; develops a stout (2' - 3') trunk and a crown of arching, stiff, blue fronds Height 15'-30' (40') Spread 1/3 - 1/2 Growth Rate slow Environment: Exposure outdoors full sun; requires heat Soil well-draining sandy loam preferred; tolerates most Hardiness hardy (zones 3-17, 19-24): thrives in hot desert locations Morphology: Leaves fan-shaped fronds: 3' - 6' wide, 6' - 10' long, strongly glaucous (blue-silver); the petioles are heavily armed with saw-like teeth Flowers purple, small, in long arching panicles that extend beyond the foliage; summer Fruit a drupe: round, 1/2" diameter, hard when ripe Propagation: seed (slow) Usage: an excellent accent palm valued for its distinctive blue-silver foliage; suitable for tropical or desert-theme Landscape Care: Watering regular if drainage is good, becomes very drought-resistant after established Fertilizing very little is required Pruning remove old dead fronds and flower panicles Pests/Diseases relatively free; root and crown rot in poorly drained soils Special Conditions/Other riparian habitats in the desert canyons of Origin: Baja Family: Arecaceae Notes: |
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