Brahea armata - Palm,Tree,Web page Navigation - Blue Fan Palm, Blue Hesper Palm, Mexican blue palm, Palma Blanca, Sweet Brahea Page

Mexican Blue Palm, also known as Brahea armata, Blue Hesper Palm, Palma Blanca, Sweet Brahea or Blue Fan Palm, is a native of Baja California, Mexico. This large, attractive evergreen palm is notable for its distinctively bluish leaves, which stretch a striking 3-6 ft in width, and the long petioles extending 3 ft in length. It grows up to 45 ft tall, making a statement in any landscape. Commercially available in the American southwest and warm temperate regions, this species thrives in various soil types and enjoys both partial shade and full sun. Known for its exceptional drought resistance, it requires occasional deep irrigation and can withstand temperatures as low as 14°F. Brahea armata is a prominent figure in Mexican landscapes, surviving even amongst Washingtonia filifera and Washingtonia robusta. Prized for its ornamental value, the palm has been bestowed with the coveted Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Cultivated specimens often have their persistent leaves cut or burned, creating a shag-like effect around their stout trunk while wild ones are commonly seen in arroyos and canyon bottoms, seamlessly growing in rock crevices. The charming, small flowers of the Mexican Blue Palm bloom in February and March, giving way to 0.5-1 in, ovoid-shaped brown fruits. The Cocopah people even roast and eat these seeds. Grow a piece of Mexican paradise with the uniquely brilliant Blue Hesper Palm.