About
Brahea dulcis is a palm that can reach heights of up to 7.5 meters, featuring a solitary trunk. Its leaf stalks are spiny, supporting leaves that are green or have a subtle blue-green hue, divided into approximately 30 to 50 lobes. In the summer, this species produces panicles of cream-colored flowers, extending up to 3 meters in length, which are succeeded by rounded, green-brown fruits measuring about 6 millimeters.
About the genus
Brahea is a genus of palm trees native to Mexico and Central America. Commonly referred to as hesper palms, these plants are characterized by their broad, fan-like foliage.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, South-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Palms
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Sub-tropical, Patio and container plants
- Native to
- C America
Care notes
- Cultivation
- In frost-prone areas, grow young specimens in full light as houseplants or under glass at 5-15°C in peat-free, loam-based potting compost, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly while in growth, water sparingly in winter, and pot on or top-dress in spring - for more advice, see palm cultivation indoors; in frost-free areas, grow in well-drained soil in full sun; will tolerate poor, dry soil, and though frost-tender will survive short periods at 0°C - for more advice, see palm cultivation outdoors
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Sow seed at 23-27°C in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free