Brahea armata

A beautiful palm from Baja California and the Sonoran Desert. Frost, salt, drought and heat tolerant, it's crown of silvery blue fan-like leaves atop the stout trunk makes a striking statement in any garden, whether among informal plantings or used as a design element along drives or to frame vistas. Huge pendant cream coloured inflorescences add an extra dimension over summer and are followed by dark brown fruit which are supposedly edible after roasting. Happy in any well drained soil but found naturally in soil that is alkaline so it is ideal for coastal gardens. Sure to thrive where more common and tropical palms struggle.

Full Sun or Shade. Outdoor. Creamy White.

One of the bluest of all palm species is Brahea armata, appropriately known as the Mexican Blue Palm. This attractive but slow-growing fan palm has leaves similar to those of the familiar Washingtonia, but with a striking chalky-blue color. The lower part of the leaf stalk has sharp curved teeth. It comes from Baja California in very arid surroundings, but always in spots where there is some sub-surface water available to its roots. Thus, although it is drought-tolerant, it does like occasional watering during the summer months. B. armata puts out long inflorescences in summer, and these arch outward and then hang downward, bearing tresses of creamy flowers. The rounded fruits that follow are about 5/8 inch across (17 mm), and are green initially, turning yellow as they ripen. Brahea is a genus of about a dozen palms, widely distributed in Mexico, and with a couple of species extending down into Central America. Most are relatively slow-growing, and they are usually found in areas with a limestone substrate. In gardens with acidic soils, it is advisable to add some lime when planting them so that the soil pH is not too low.

A cold hardy palm good to Zone 8. A blue fan palm with large trunks that occur in NW Mexico. Likes full sun and good drainage. Slow growth rate, wonderful foliage, and spectacular inflorescence. To see a photo of a mature Brahea armata go to http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Brahea/armata.html

The leaves are chalky, dusty blue on this most stunning Mexican palm, slow growing, to 20 ft in a long time. Sun to part shade and lean soil that promotes very, very good drainage for best winter hardiness. Drought tolerant but faster growing with some summer moisture. Roots should be disturbed as little as possible when planting. Easy in USDA zone 9; frost hardy with protection in zone 8 or in pots.