Brahea
Hesper palms · also Mexican blue palm, Blue hesper palm, Sweet brahea palm
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Brahea is a genus of fan palms native to Mexico and Central America, thriving in full sun and low-water conditions found in rocky, desert, or dry shrubland environments. These palms are highly tolerant of drought and wind, but some species can be susceptible to crown rot in humid coastal areas. They feature large, fan-shaped leaves, with some varieties forming a 'skirt' of persistent dead fronds.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 80.01%16 yr16 in
- 60.00%——
Traits
- Form
- Palm
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 20–50 ft
- Canopy spread
- 25 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- USDA zones
- 8–9
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water needs
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- Moderate
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 16 in, mean 11 in, 90th percentile 19 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Deserts & Xeric Shrublands
- Baja California desert
- Central Mexican matorral
Tropical & Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
- Central American dry forests
Other Brahea in the catalogue
3 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
