Washingtonia filifera Desert fan palm (Palmae) Evergreen tree

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Washingtonia filifera
Desert fan palm
Evergreen tree
(1 Page of 5)

The Washingtonia filifera plant species is found in Southwestern N. America - S. California, S.W. Arizona, N.W. Mexico. It is a member of the Palmae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Desert fan palm.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Washingtonia filifera
Common Name:  Desert fan palm
Family:  Palmae
Author:  (Lindl.)Wendl.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  12   Mature Width:  12

Habitat:  Often forming extensive groves or small isolated clumps in moist alkaline spots in rocky canyons about seeps, springs and streams below 1500 metres[71, 82, 166].

Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked or dried for later use[2, 46, 161, 177, 257]. It can be made into jellies and drinks or dried and ground into a meal[46, 183]. The seed can be ground up with the dried fruit and then both are eaten as a porridge[246]. The fruit is small and hard[213], but has a thin sweet pulp that tastes somewhat like dates[183, 213]. The ovoid fruit is about 6mm long and 4mm wide[200]. Young central bud - roasted[46, 177, 183]. Harvesting this central bud will kill the tree since it is unable to make side branches[K]. Young leaf bases - raw or cooked[161, 177]. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a powder and used for making bread or porridge[161, 183].

For further Washingtonia filifera gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future