Palms For California

Pronunciation: bra-HEE-uh cal-CARE-ee-uh

Common Name: White Rock Palm, Oaxaca Palm

Brahea calcarea was for years known to us Californians as Brahea nitida, but as more taxonomy is researched, it turns out the original description of this palm had a different name. This is a Mexican fan palm with nearly circular green leaves and very long inflorescences. It is one of the few unarmed Braheas. It is one of the most cold tolerant of the Braheas as well.

Synonym: Brahea nitida

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 20-30 fan leaves Height: 30' Trunk: single; 12"-15" thick; either clean with or without upper trunk having a petticoat of dead leaves, OR covered for most, if not all its length with dark brown fiber and retained, un-split leaf bases; very closely ringed; grey to grey-brown Crownshaft: none Spread: 8'-10' Leaf Description: palmate; deep green above, glaucous below; circular; leaves divided about 1/3 their length; 5' long Petiole/Leaf bases: 3' long; unarmed; medium green; un-split leaf bases often retained on trunk Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 8'-10' long, usually drooping below leaf crown; highly branched but not as neat and symmetrical as those of Brahea armata Fruit: spherical; 1/2"; yellow to orange when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 18F Drought Tolerance: good Dry Heat Tolerance: good Wind Tolerance: good Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: slow Soil Preference: very adaptable Light Requirement: full sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: unknown but suspect poorly tolerant Indoor?: poor choice Availability: rare