Brahea edulis

Guadalupe palm
Best-adapted to California climate conditions. Beautiful in shade or sun. Great in pots. Top choice near the coast; good inland, too.
Brahea edulisBrahea edulisBrahea edulisBrahea edulisBrahea edulis
height 12–20ft
width 10–15ft
tolerates Coast, Cool Summers, Drought, Fog, Pots, Neglect, Salt, Wind
water
needs		 Lowest
water
info		 Native to an island in our California Floristic Province where rain falls sporadically in winter and fog drip supplies water during the rest of the year.

Not all palms love water! This one is actually drought-tolerant and can live quite happily on little or no water once it’s established, especially near the coast, though it’ll grow more slowly and may not look as lush. To keep your palm looking its best, be sure to water it consistently and deeply while it’s getting established, then after a few years give it a good deep soaking every couple of weeks. It will also be happy to have more water, provided the soil drainage is adequate. Avoid spray irrigation and lawn planting.
hardy
to		 18F
exposure Full Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Palm Fertilizer
origin Guadalupe Island, Mexico
california
native		 Yes
sunset
zones		 8, 9, 12–23

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Equally at home in full sun or bright shade, this solitary palm will grow only one trunk during its lifetime, and can lean gracefully toward brighter light. In desert areas this palm appreciates some sun protection.
If you have a pot with multiple stems in it, that’s because multiple seeds were germinated in the pot. The good news is that you won’t need to thin out suckers over time to maintain the number of trunks you started out with. Over time, these clustered plants will form a group of trunks that lean gently away from each other to maximize their light exposure.
Once it’s mature, this palm will naturally shed its leaves, leaving the trunk below the palm’s crown exposed. A great choice if you’re looking for a palm with a clean trunk but don’t want to deal with manually removing the leaves.
Clouds of greenish-cream flowers fill the crown in spring-summer. To minimize fruit cleanup, cut flowerstalks before fruit ripens.
Fan palms have leaflets spreading from the tip of the petiole, giving the crown of the palm a rounded full look. They tend to rustle in the breeze, adding a soothing note to the garden.
Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients, especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves.

Special Interest

This palm combines beautifully with native California plants like buckwheats, sages, ceanothus, Monterey pine, and live oak. It contributes to the oasis-style garden, especially when it’s mixed with cactus and other drought-tolerant plants like euphorbias. It also makes an unusual and compelling addition to the Mediterranean garden when mixed with lavender, rosemary, and olives. As a rich-green plant with huge leaves, it serves up a tropical feeling without guzzling water.