James H. Schutte
Family
Arecaceae
Botanical Name
BRAHEA armata
Plant Common Name
Blue Hesper Palm, Mexican Blue Palm
General Description
Featuring bold beautiful evergreen leaves and a spectacular display of summer flowers, this native of Baja California and northwestern mainland Mexico is a palm for all seasons. Wind- and heat-tolerant, it grows slowly into a medium-sized, thick-trunked tree.
The huge, blue-green to silver-green, fan-shaped fronds are divided into 40 to 60 long, blade-like segments, that radiate like the spokes of an umbrella. Twenty-five to thirty fronds are borne atop the trunk on long, erect, inclined, or drooping stems ("petioles"), forming a dense, rounded, symmetrical crown. The petioles are edged with short curved spines. A "skirt" of drooping older leaves sometimes fringes the base of the crown. Plants are initially stemless, developing a trunk after a few years. Trunks of young plants bristle with the protruding, wedge-shaped petiole bases of fallen leaves, creating a pineapple effect. The petiole bases eventually drop to reveal the gray, horizontally grooved trunk. Enormous, showy, tassel-like clusters of small creamy flowers droop from the crown on long stems in summer. Small round fleshy fruits follow the flowers, ripening black. Bees visit the flowers, and birds and other wildlife eat the fruits.
Grow Mexican blue palm in full sun in porous soils; neutral to alkaline soils are best. It will survive temperatures of well below freezing if the soil is not damp. Although tolerant of heat, wind and drought, this species will perform much better if watered occasionally in summer. Feature this stunning palm against a background of dark green trees or a dark building, or combine it with other woody plants in a mixed border.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 11
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Sunset Zone
H1, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Palm or Cycad
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
20'-60' / 6.1m - 18.3m
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Width
12'-20' / 3.7m - 6.1m
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Bloom Time
Summer
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Native To
Mexico
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Ivory
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Fruit Color
Black
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Blue Green, Gray Green, Steel Blue, Silver, Gray
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Blue Green, Gray Green, Steel Blue, Silver, Gray
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Blue Green, Gray Green, Steel Blue, Silver, Gray
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Foliage Color (Winter)
White, Blue Green, Gray Green, Silver, Gray
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Bark Color
Sienna, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Bold
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
