Species

Washingtonia robusta

Etymology

robusta: sturdy

Common Name(s)

California fan palm, desert fan palm, American cotton palm, cotton palm, Washington palm

Authority

Washingtonia robusta H.Wendl.

Family

Arecaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Monocotyledonous Trees and Shrubs

Similar Taxa

Plants naturalising in New Zealand are either pure Washingtonia robusta or derived from hybrids between W. filifera and W. robusta.

Flower Colours

Cream,White

Year Naturalised

2007

Origin

California (U.S.A.)

Reason for Introduction

Ornamental

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Long-lived perennial tree which reproduces exclusively by seed. Fleshy fruits enclosing a hard nut are dispersed by birds and gravity.

This page last updated on 26 Jul 2014