California Fan Palm

Care

Hardiness zones

UF/IFAS ST669 lists USDA zones 9A through 11, and Oregon State lists zone 9. The USDA Forest Service says the species can withstand about 22 hours of subfreezing temperature. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says it is more cold hardy than Mexican fan palm but prefers a drier climate than Florida's. No source used gives a specific low-temperature damage threshold in degrees.

Mature size

UF/IFAS ST669 gives 40 to 60 feet tall with a 10 to 15 foot spread, and says it can reach 80 feet. The USDA Forest Service gives 30 to 50 feet tall and a trunk 1 to 2 feet across, and the USDA NRCS gives up to 20 m (about 65 feet). The sources differ, so expect variation with site and age. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says the genus can reach 100 feet or more, but that figure is given for Mexican Fan Palm.

Family

Arecaceae (true palm family)

Where it comes from

A desert palm of the southwestern United States. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service describes groves below about 1,200 m at alkaline seeps, springs and streams on the west and north edge of the Colorado Desert and nearby desert ranges, with populations in Arizona and northern Baja California. The USDA Forest Service adds populations in Nevada. Oregon State University gives southern California, Arizona and northwest Mexico. One UF/IFAS fact sheet (ST669) says the palm is not native to North America, which conflicts with these USDA and university sources, so that statement is not used here.