California Fan Palms for Sale
Buy our California fan palms, the best palm tree for Southern California
California Fan Palm Tree
SPECIFICATIONS
Common Name: California Fan PalmBotanical Name: Washingtonia Filifera
Frond Canopy: 20-30’Mature Height: 49-66’ tallTrunk Diameter: 3-4’
Planting Dimensions: 5’x5’x5’ HoleSoil Requirements: Sandy LoamClimate: Warm arid, resistant to cold snaps.
Trunk Type: Solitary and Clumping. Thick and Sturdy. Persistent Circular Leaf Scars. Leaf Type: Spiky Gray Green. 8’-12’ Frond Length.
Fruit: Small, Round, Black Fruit of about ½ inch in Diameter. Not Normally Eaten.Flower: White Flowers & Pollen. Produces in Late Spring.

The Razor Clean
BEAUTIFULLY SHAVED
A popular service is to have the trunk “razor clean”. This is a service that most of our customers opt for.

BEFORE

AFTER
About the California Fan Palm
GENERAL INFORMATION
The California Fan Palm is an Evergreen Monocot, meaning that it is green all year round that bears a single seed leaf. This seed leaf is also known as the spear. It is estimated that this palm can produce approximately 30 of these leafs per year, but that number needs verification. The fronds persist on the tree after they die forming a dense, brown, shaggy covering, “Hula Skirt” below the crown, and is how the California Fan Palm got the name Petticoat Palm. This skirt can be a fire hazard, and can host a variety of wildlife such as: birds, snakes, rodents, and Insects.
The California Fan Palm, also known as the Washingtonia Filifera (scientific name), Desert Fan Palm, Petticoat Palm, Cotton Palm, or California Palm is a member of the Arecaceae Family. The genus for this palm, Washingtonia, is named in honor of George Washington, and Filifera means Thread Bearing. These fan palms are known for their large draping skirts, which is how they received the common name Petticoat Palm. The California Fan Palm is the only palm native to the western United States, and is the countries largest native palm. In fact, the California Fan Palm is one of only eleven palms native to North America. These palms are known for their hardiness, ease of grown, and life span of up to 80-250 years or more, which is one reason why they have received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Our crew installing a 15′ California Fan Palm
Native Soil
Trunk
Fruit & Flora
Hardiness & Transplant
Hardiness, Soil and Water

Trimming & Maintenance
Few nutrient problems occur in the California Fan Palms, but potassium deficiency is virtually ubiquitous in this species. It can be seen by leaf discoloration and premature death of the old leaves. Avoid removing discolored leaves as the palm is able to drain potassium out of them when sources of potassium in the soil are insufficient. With that said, as far as fertilizer is concerned, consider supplementing with Potassium (K), and lower water usage once the tree is established.
Hybrid Fan Palms
The California Fan Palm (Washingtonia Filifera), and the Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia Robusta) cross breed to form the Hybrid Fan Palm (Washingtonia Filibusta), read the full profile here.
Truly pure California Fan Palms show very little variation between one another. This suggests that the genus of the palm is very stable. The California Fan Palm Hybridizes with the Mexican Fan Palm, or the Washingtonia Robusta. And if there is any red in the petioles of the fronds, it is not a pure filifera, but a Fila-Busta hybrid. The California Fan Palm is a true desert species that is more resistant to cold snaps provided conditions are dry, and the Mexican Fan Palm is better suited to moisture climates and the east coast. It is thought that the hybrid between the California Fan Palm (The Washingtonia Filifera) and the Mexican Fan Palm (The Washingtonia Robusta), the Filibusta, should grow fairly well in cooler climates with wet winters, combining the cold tolerance of the W. Filifera with the moisture resistance of the W. Robusta. Examples of potential application in the United States include Oregon and Washington. There is a lot of misconceptions about palm tree survival and plant hardiness. We suggest reading David A. Franko’s “Palms Won’t Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm-Climate Plants for Cooler Areas” to help guide you in incorporating palms and other species into your garden or landscape.
Closing Remarks
With all of these positives, it is safe to say that the California Fan Palm is the Best Palm Tree for Southern California, and Desert Empire Palms carries the best California Fan Palms in the world!
Get Your Palms Tree
3 SIMPLE STEPS

STEP 1 : Choose a Palm Tree
We carry Medjool Date Palms, Deglet Date Palms, California Fan Palms, and Mexican Fan Palms. At times we also carry Mediterranean Fan Palms, Sabal Palms, and Canary Island palms. We have them in a wide range of sizes, and can find you the perfect tree for any application.

STEP 2 : Opt for Delivery
Delivery is not required in any of your orders, you can arrange your own transportation. If you prefer the palm tree delivered at your location, you can choose between two different methods depending on the size and amount of trees: the semi-truck or our local/in-house transportation.

STEP 3 : Select a Landscape Contractor
The massive root ball attached to the base of the trunk requires the use of a crane in most cases. Depending on the type/size of tree it is possible to handle the palm tree without a crane. Date Palm Trees above 3' tall, California Fan Palms above 4' tall and Mexican Fan Palms above 7' require machinery.

4 Nursery locations. Servicing the Southwest USA and across the country.
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