Sun. Evergreen, with a stout, barrel-shaped trunk that immediately sets it apart from the taller, thinner Mexican fan palm. The leaves have peeling fibers, or “cotton,” giving the tree a wispy appearance.
California fan palm is a palm of desert oases: drought-resistant, freeze-hardy, and disease resistant. The pockmarked trunks resemble Greek columns in the landscape; in San Antonio, these are prominently displayed at Alamo Stadium, the Spanish missions, and throughout historic neighborhoods.
Sharp teeth arm the leaves, making pruning a delicate business. Pruning off the skirts of dead leaves may require a professional with spikes, a belt, or a crane cab.
Avoid blasting fan palm with sprinklers in winter — freeze damage may erode the wood and leave it looking pitted.
