Garden Diary: Why the Washingtonia Palm is Unsuitable for a Small Urban Garden

… in my opinion.

Yes, that’s right. They look great when small but grow way too quickly and ultimately to a height of 40-80ft. The tree in our small urban garden is now nearly twice the height of our single-story villa and still growing. When we planted the Washingtonia many years ago, we had no idea how big or ugly it grew. OR … how difficult and expensive to maintain as it matures. When the bottom leaves die off, they are a pain to remove and a fire hazard. The taller the tree, the greater the challenge and a professional arborist or a guy with sky hooks is needed to maintain it.

It is also worth considering the root system. These are some photographs taken of the Washingtonia growing nearby.

One of our neighbours has deep pockets and had her Washingtonia tree manicured.

Washingtonia palms growing at Lagos Marina will indicate the height these trees will achieve and why, in my humble opinion, they are unsuitable for small urban gardens.

Some people love them. But if you are like me, a newbie to this palm and have a small garden, it might be worth reconsidering.

Reference: https://www.gardenia.net/plant/washingtonia-robusta

https://www.thespruce.com/mexican-fan-palm-care-guide-5704076

All you need to know about Washingtonia palms

https://greg.app/washingtonia-palm-roots/