Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Brahea armata

blue fan palm

An erect palm, up to 15m high, with a single trunk covered by fibrous leaf bases, spiny leaf stalks up to 1.5m long, blue-green waxy leaves, 1-2m across, divided into about 50 lobes, and arching panicles 4m long of showy yellow flowers 1.5cm across in summer, followed by rounded yellow-brown fruit, 2cm long

Other common names
big blue hesper palm
blue hesper palm
see moregrey goddess
Mexican blue fan palm
short blue hesper
Franceschi palm
short-arm blue hesper palm
Synonyms
Erythea clara
Erythea armata
see moreBrahea elegans
Brahea roezlii
Erythea elegans
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
4–8 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Brown Green Blue
Summer Brown Yellow Green Blue
Autumn Brown Green Blue Brown Yellow
Winter Brown Green Blue
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H1C
Botanical details
Family
Arecaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Brahea is a genus of palms, endemic to Mexico and Central America. Also called hesper palms, they all have large, fan-shaped leaves.

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Mexico

How to grow

Cultivation

In frost-prone areas, grow young specimens in full light as houseplants or under glass at 5-15°C in peat-free, loam-based potting compost, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly while in growth, water sparingly in winter, and pot on or top-dress in spring - for more advice, see palm cultivation indoors; in frost-free areas, grow in well-drained soil in full sun; will tolerate poor, dry soil, and though frost-tender will survive short periods at 0°C - for more advice, see palm cultivation outdoors

Propagation

Sow seed at 23-27°C in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • Sub-tropical
  • Patio and container plants
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.