Brahea brandegeei

Brahea (brah-HEH-ah) brandegeei (bran-deh-JEH-ee)
San Diego, CA.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Brahea (brah-HEH-ah) Species: brandegeei (bran-deh-JEH-ee)
Synonyms
Erythaea brandegeei
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Palmately compound
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
San José Hesper Palm.

Habitat and Distribution

Baja California, North America.

Baja California, Mexico. Phpto-pbase.com

Description

Height: 40-60 feet, This is a tall, slender, solitary palm, that slowly grows to 125 feet tall. Leaves 40 - 70 per crown, the 3 foot long grey-green leaves are held around the trunk forming a skirt. It takes full sun, and will tolerate aridity. It is very similar to Brahea armata with light green fronds and a very attractive trunk pattern formed by the leaf bases.

Culture

Requirements: Full Sun, water sparingly. Min. temp.: 25-30° F. Best in climates like its native Baja California, but will thrive in a wide range of other climes. Will take extreme drought, full, blistering inland sun, and hot high winds, which will kill other palms. Will not take moving well in a hurry.

Comments and Curiosities

"This is the fastest growing and tallest of the Braheas, and has a very ornamental trunk with the retained leaf bases. If it were'nt for these leaf bases, it would look just like a skinny Washingtonia. It's cold hardiness may not be equal to some of the other Braheas, but for us in So Cal, it's plenty hardy enough. This Brahea, however, has the most hardiness to humidity and is the only species reliably grown in Florida (all the others suffer)." (Geoff Stein)