Washingtonia robusta
Mexican fan palm
(c) Bill Levine, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Arecaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Washingtonia robusta (Mexican fan palm) is a non-native California tree in the Arecaceae family, recognized by . Clear morphological differences complement native status distinction.
Mexican fan palm is a naturalized shrub found in southern coastal California in desert washes, disturbed areas, and riparian corridors at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this palm produces white flowers in large drooping clusters up to 3 meters long. Growing with a distinctive trunk reaching up to 30 meters tall and 80 centimeters in diameter, it has red-brown petioles sharply toothed along their entire length. Its large fan-shaped leaves extend to 1 meter wide, with inconspicuous thread-like fibers along the leaf segment margins. This palm is a prominent landscape feature in disturbed areas, easily recognizable by its tall, slender trunk and expansive fan-like foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Clear morphological differences complement native status distinction.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert washes, disturbed areas, riparian corridors
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: native to Baja California, Sonora
Bloom period
Washingtonia robusta blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Sabal: Washingtonia leaf stems split at the base; Sabal leaf stems don't split and attach directly to the trunk.; vs Phoenix: Washingtonia has fan-shaped leaves; Phoenix has feather-like leaves with leaflets in rows along a central stem.; vs Trachycarpus: Washingtonia has smooth trunks (or dead leaf bases); Trachycarpus trunks are wrapped in dense brown fiber.; vs Chamaerops: Washingtonia forms single tall trunks; Chamaerops grows as a multi-stemmed shrubby clump from the base.; vs Brahea: Washingtonia has bright green leaves; Brahea has distinctly blue-gray or silvery-green waxy leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Washingtonia robusta native to California?
No. Washingtonia robusta is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Washingtonia robusta bloom?
Washingtonia robusta blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Washingtonia robusta belong to?
Washingtonia robusta is in the Arecaceae family, genus Washingtonia.
Is Washingtonia robusta invasive in California?
Washingtonia robusta is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Washingtonia robusta grow in?
Washingtonia robusta grows in Desert washes, disturbed areas, riparian corridors.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.