Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm

$190.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm/33cm

30cm/33cm 40cm/45L 100L 150L 300L 400L 2000L

Current Stock Height Guides

300L: 2.6m - 3.5m approx.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 20m to 30m

Mature Width: 3m to 5m

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm

Washingtonia robusta, the Mexican Fan Palm, is a tall single trunked palm with a slim, slightly tapering stem and a crown of large fan shaped fronds. Old leaf bases pattern the trunk as it lifts, and sprays of small cream flowers hang out of the crown in spring and summer.

Mature palms reach 20 to 30 metres with a crown spread of 3 to 5 metres, growing 60 centimetres to 1 metre a year in warm conditions. Full sun and free draining soil are what it asks for. Salt, wind and drought are no trouble once established, and light frost is tolerated.

It suits coastal resorts, civic plazas, avenue plantings and large gardens where height and a strong vertical line are the point. Space palms 3 to 4 metres apart in rows. Maintenance comes down to removing spent fronds, which calls for access equipment once the crown is well overhead.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Mexican Fan Palm

What is a Mexican Fan Palm?

Washingtonia robusta is a tall single trunked palm from north western Mexico, grown for its slim tapering trunk and crown of large fan shaped fronds. Old leaf bases pattern the trunk as it lifts, and sprays of small cream flowers hang out of the crown through spring and summer.

How tall does a Mexican Fan Palm grow?

Mature palms reach 20 to 30 metres with a crown spread of 3 to 5 metres. That height takes decades, and in cooler southern districts they usually stop well short of it. The narrow crown means the ground footprint stays small even when the palm is very tall.

How fast does a Mexican Fan Palm grow?

Fast for a palm, about 60 centimetres to 1 metre of trunk a year in warm conditions with sun and water. Growth slows markedly in cool climates and on dry unirrigated sites. It remains one of the quickest ways to get genuine height into a newly built landscape.

Where does a Mexican Fan Palm grow best in Australia?

It thrives in warm temperate, subtropical, coastal and Mediterranean regions, so Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and the coastal strip between them, along with inland areas that get hot dry summers. Arid conditions are handled once established. Growth is slow and less reliable in cold highland districts.

Is a Mexican Fan Palm frost tolerant?

It handles light to moderate frost once established, which covers most temperate Australian gardens. Young palms are more vulnerable, so protect the crown through the first couple of winters in frost prone areas. Repeated heavy frost will scorch the fronds and slow growth without usually killing the palm outright.

Can a Mexican Fan Palm grow in a pot?

It can while it is young, in a large container with a free draining mix, and it is often used that way for entries and courtyards. It will not stay a container plant permanently, since the trunk keeps climbing and the root system outgrows any practical pot within several years.

How do I care for a Mexican Fan Palm?

Water regularly through the first two summers, after which it is largely self sufficient. Feed with a palm fertiliser in spring. The ongoing job is removing spent fronds and old flower stalks, which becomes an access equipment task once the crown is high. Never cut into the growing point.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Avenue Planting
Council or Civic Landscapes

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm works in an:

Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm Evergreen or Deciduous?

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 20m to 30m

Mature Width: 3m to 5m

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast).

Growth Rate of Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast).

They are considered to have a:

Fast Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm

Is Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm frost tolerant?

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm Flower?

Washingtonia robusta produces long sprays of small, creamy-white flowers during the warmer months. While not highly ornamental, these blooms are followed by small dark fruits and are secondary to the palm’s dramatic height, slender trunk and iconic fan-shaped foliage.

Does Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring
Summer

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

Cream

Is Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm an Australian Native Tree?

No

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm is Native to Northwestern Mexico, particularly the Baja California Peninsula and Sonora, where it grows naturally in desert oases and valleys.

What is the Wildlife Value of Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm ?

Its tall trunk and broad fan-shaped canopy provide roosting and perching opportunities for birds, particularly in urban and coastal landscapes. While not a major nectar source, the structure of the palm contributes to habitat value by offering shelter and vertical interest within the garden ecosystem.

How much Sunlight does Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm need?

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Washingtonia robusta performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils with a neutral to alkaline pH. It will also tolerate poorer soils provided drainage remains free-flowing. Avoid heavy clay or consistently wet ground unless significantly improved, as excess moisture can stress the root system. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the palm matures.

Is Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm Drought Tolerant?

Is Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm Drought tolerant?

As a young palm it benefits from regular watering to establish a strong root system, particularly during warm weather. Once established, Washingtonia robusta shows excellent drought tolerance and performs reliably through extended dry periods, making it well suited to low-water and exposed sites.

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How To Plant Your Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (fast).

Fast Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Washingtonia robusta – Mexican Fan Palm in Different Soil

Washingtonia robusta performs best in free-draining loam or sandy loam with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is sharp.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch lightly to moderate surface temperature.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and coarse organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline preferred. Avoid waterlogging at all times.