Mexican Fan Palm

Scientific name: Washingtonia robusta

POWO Status: Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 54.30″ N, 64° 49′ 46.80″ W

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Observations:

Phenological Markers – Washingtonia robusta
Common Name: Mexican Fan Palm
Scientific Name: Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl.
Family: Arecaceae

Leaf Phenology

  • Leaf Type: Large, fan-shaped (palmate), with spiny petioles; leaf segments droop slightly at the tips
  • Evergreen/Semi-deciduous: Evergreen
  • Leaf Flush: New leaves emerge year-round in tropical climates, with increased growth in warm, wet seasons
  • Leaf Shedding: Older leaves die, turn brown, and form a persistent skirt if not removed
  • Leaf Color Changes: Healthy leaves are bright to medium green; aging leaves fade to pale brown before dropping

Flower Phenology

  • Flower Type: Small, creamy-white, unisexual flowers produced on long, branched inflorescences that extend well beyond the leaves
  • Flowering Season: Late spring to mid-summer (typically May–July in tropical/subtropical regions)
  • Flower Duration: Inflorescences can last 4–6 weeks
  • Flowering Cues: Triggered by consistently warm temperatures and lengthening days

Fruit Phenology

  • Fruit Type: Small, round to ovoid drupes, about 0.5 in (1–1.3 cm) in diameter; thin, fleshy black skin with a single seed
  • Fruit Development Period: 5–6 months after flowering
  • Fruit Maturity Season: Late autumn to early winter (October–December in many regions)
  • Fruit Dispersal: Primarily by birds and small mammals

Bark Phenology

  • Bark Texture: Smooth when young; older trunks become ringed with closely spaced leaf scars
  • Bark Color: Light gray to brown
  • Unique Bark Features: Tall, slender trunk (up to 100 ft / 30 m), tapering slightly at the top; retains a skirt of old leaves unless pruned
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