Washingtonia filifera
California fan palm, Desert fan palm, Petticoat palm
This sturdy fan palm, with its untidy leaves and hanging, straw-like “skirt”, is native of the extreme south of Arizona, Nevada, California, and Baja California. It grows in the desert and foothills, usually by springs and along permanent streams. The trunk is 1m (3ft) or more in diameter, and the dark green, fan-shaped leaves, 2m (6 1/2ft) or more across, have hanging fibrous tips to the segments and long threads, which give it its name, filifera. The inflorescence appears among the leaves and bears plum-like, brownish black fruit.
Cultivation Easily grown in dry soil where there is sufficient water beneath.
Height to 25m (80ft); spread to 5m (16ft). USZ9–11, surviving -3°C (27°F) of overnight frost. Needs ample water at the roots.