California Fan Palm
Washingtonia filifera
Care
full sun
low
Fast; Prefers well drained soils, suseptible to root rot in excessively wet soils.
49–66ft tall , 10–15ft wide
Jan-Dec
Evergreen
Resistant
Heart/terminal bud eaten raw or cooked; seeds roasted
Desert oases and canyons of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts in southern California from Inyo County south to San Diego County, 1000-3000 ft elevation, extending to Arizona and Baja California.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your California Fan Palm in full sun with fast-draining soil - this is non-negotiable, as the plant is highly susceptible to root rot in wet conditions. Choose a spot where water won't pool after rain or irrigation. Space it with room to grow; this is a large tree that can reach 49 to 66 feet tall at maturity. Plant in fall or winter when the plant can establish roots before summer heat.
After Planting
Water weekly during your first summer, then taper off as the plant establishes - once mature, it needs only about one irrigation per month in summer, if at all. The #1 mistake Bay Area gardeners make is overwatering; this desert native thrives on neglect and will rot if kept too wet. You don't need to prune dead leaves, but if you do remove them for aesthetics, cut close to the trunk and be careful of the heavy fronds - birds and bats may shelter underneath.
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Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
Listed under ESA and CESA; endemic to San Diego County
Listed under ESA; native to Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Wildlife Supported
Birds
Early season nectar source for breeding populations
Weaves hanging nests in palm fronds during breeding season (Apr-Jun)
Year-round roosting and nesting habitat in dense foliage
Constructs pendant nests in palm canopy during breeding season
Winter foraging on fallen palm fruits
Fall migration staging; consumes palm fruits opportunistically
Uses dense palm crowns for roosting and shelter
Fall foraging on palm fruits; also provides nesting substrate
+2 more species
Insects
Spring flowering period for palm inflorescences
Palm flowers provide early season nectar resource
Wood-boring larval development in palm trunks and fronds
Mammals
Opportunistic foraging on fallen palm fruit in autumn
Historical range; frugivorous consumption of palm fruits