Washingtonia robusta

Mexican fan palm, Skyduster

(21 customer reviews)

£772.95

A vigorous, spectacular palm with a wide crown of impressive fan shaped fronds on a tall stout trunk. An impressive specimen for a large conservatory but also survives outdoors in mild gardens with winter protection, as any frost scorched leaves can be quickly replaced by rapid new growth in Spring.

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Origin: Northwestern Mexico
Genus: Washingtonia
Species / Cultivar: robusta
Common Name: Mexican fan palm, Skyduster

Plant Biography

The Mexican Fan Palm is a tall, vigorous palm that quickly grows a stout trunk, albeit thinner than its sister species Washingtonia filifera. Widely grown worldwide, the Skyduster is probably most familiar from the avenue plantings in California. Trunks are topped by a crown of large (1.5m wide or more) fan leaves that have loose threaded margins and often a purplish brown patch at the base of the leaf stalk – another feature lacking in Washingtonia filifera. Although often scorched by frost below around -5C or so Washingtonia robusta quickly regrows when the weather improves and replaces the damaged leaves.

Washingtonia robusta
Growth Rate: Fast
Expect to see prolific growth, especially during growing season.
Final Size: Tall
Final size will work as a large stand-alone specimen plant.
Water Requirement: Low
Will grow in a drier position and is unlikely to need regular watering once established.
Situation: Full Sun to Part Shade
Enjoys direct sun most of the day, but tolerant of fewer sunlit hours or light dappling.
Eventual Height: 20m
The plant's ultimate height in typical growing conditions.
Eventual Spread: 3m
The plant's ultimate spread in typical growing conditions.
Hardiness: Hardy
Survives unprotected in an average winter. May need protection in extreme long frosts.
Care & Size Guidance

Care & Size Guidance

Although tender to frost when young, Washingtonia robusta acquires hardiness with age. Mature plants can now be seen growing throughout the milder regions of the U.K.

Responds well to regular feeding with a palm fertiliser from April to September.

Expert Tip

These plants come from arid climates and are very drought-proof once established. However regular watering in summer will greatly increase their growth rate.

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21 customer reviews for Washingtonia robusta

Bought the 70Ltr pot, repotted into a 120Ltr pot. Looks amazing, nearly 3metres tall! Kept in sheltered corner with 5 direct hours of sunlight a day!

John A Putney

Very pleased with the quality of this plant – we have had palms from The Palm Centre on a few occasions and they are always excellent. This one was particularly large and very healthy. I would also like to mention the Courier Service – the guy who brought the plants went out of his way to be helpful. Our house is tucked away down a long drive; he found us – no problem, he had a special trolley to wheel the pallet down the drive – no problem, he unloaded the pallet – no problem AND he took it away – no problem. He was the happiest most helpful Delivery Driver we have seen for weeks so a big THANK YOU to him and to the team at The Palm Centre for some lovely plants once again.

Debra F.

Ordered a 10 litre Mexican Fan Palm along with several other plants (palms, bananas, tree ferns). Arrived very securely packed along with the other plants. I was surprised by how tall this was (perhaps 4-5 ft). One negative was one of the leaves being in quite a bad state. Otherwise the plant is a beautiful architectural delight. Repotted in a new, larger pot it enhances our outer space significantly.

Qamar Z

Bought the 15 ltr pot and is ample. Really nice palm and superb colour with excellent palms on it. Cant recommend these guys high enough, will definitely be buying again.

Wayne