Blue Hesper Palm, Blue Fan Palm, Mexican Blue Palm
Brahea armata
Family: Arecaceae or Palmae
What it is like
Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early spring, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid spring. Form: Palm.
Brahea armata is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 12
Where it is found
Dry woodlands, usually on limestone soils.
South-western N. America - Mexico.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Although we have seen no reports of edibility, the fruit is almost certainly edible either raw or cooked. It is about 2cm in diameter.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Landscape Uses: Specimen. Succeeds in most fertile moist but well-drained soils in a sheltered sunny position. Tolerant of poor dry soils. Plants are drought and heat tolerant. This species is not very cold-hardy, though it tolerates several degrees of frost if it is growing in a dry sunny climate and could be tried out of doors in the mildest areas of Britain. Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates. Palms can also often be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help. Special Features: North American native, Blooms are very showy.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at not less than 24°c. Germination of fresh seed usually takes place in 3 - 4 months at 25°c. Stored seed is very slow to germinate. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing may shorten the germination time. Plants form a long tap-root some time before forming a shoot so it is best to sow 2 - 3 seeds per deep pot. Grow the seedlings on in the greenhouse for at least their first three winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 9-11
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist