Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Mediterranean Fan Palm
Mediterranean Fan Palm is a slow, clumping fan palm that grows several trunks from one base into a full, bushy shape. It stays compact and does not outgrow its spot the way tall palms can. It takes full sun, reflected heat and Valley freezes, and it drops very little litter. People plant it as a front yard accent, near pools and patios, and in large pots.
Best for: Front yard and entry accents, pool and patio areas, large pots and raised planters, and yards that need a palm that stays compact.
Planted on its own, it makes a bushy accent by a front walk, entry or patio. The clump of curving trunks shows well with lights aimed up at it at night.
It drops very little, which is why it is a common palm around pools and patios. Set it in a bed where people will not brush past the fronds.
Its slow growth suits big pots and raised planters on patios and courtyards. Use a large pot and a soil mix that drains well, since it does not like wet roots.
It grows only about 6 inches a year, so a small plant stays small for a while. The leaf stems have sharp teeth, so keep it off narrow paths and play areas. Over time the clump can spread 10 to 20 feet wide, and it does not like soggy soil.
- Row or group of palms12-20 ft apart, center to center
- Single clump near other large plants12-20 ft from them, center to center
Water a new palm daily for the first two weeks, keeping the root ball moist but not soggy. Then water about once a week, 2 feet deep, and widen the watered area as the roots grow.
Once rooted, soak it deeply every 5 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 6 weeks in winter. Let the top of the soil dry between soaks. Regular summer water makes it grow faster.
Feed with a palm fertilizer twice a year while the soil is warm, in spring and again in mid-summer. Skip feeding late in the year.
Remove only dead or brown fronds, and never cut green fronds above the horizontal. Take off no more than a quarter of the living crown in a season. Wear gloves, since the leaf stems carry sharp teeth.
It makes suckers at the base and grows into a clump. Leave them for a full clump, or cut them off at ground level to keep one trunk.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does a Mediterranean Fan Palm get?
In Arizona yards it usually reaches 10 to 20 feet tall, and the clump spreads about as wide. Many stay in the 10 to 15 foot range for years because it grows so slowly.
How fast does it grow?
Slowly, about 6 inches a year. It grows faster with regular summer water.
Does it grow one trunk or many?
It grows as a clump, sending up new trunks from the base over time. You can keep it to one trunk by cutting the new shoots off at ground level. Most people let it clump.
How cold can it handle?
It handles about 10°F with little or no damage, and it is one of the most cold hardy palms. Plants have come through brief dips near 5°F, and Valley freezes leave it with little or no damage.
Can it take full sun and reflected heat?
Yes. It does well in full sun, including hot walls and reflected heat. It also grows in part shade.
How often should I water it?
Water deeply, then let the soil dry between soaks. Once rooted, that is about every 5 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 6 weeks in winter.
What soil does it need, and when should I plant?
It takes poor desert soil as long as water drains away. Dig the hole wider than the root ball but no deeper. Late spring to early summer is the best planting time, since warm soil helps roots grow.
How do I trim it?
It needs very little trimming. Cut only fronds that are fully brown and leave the green ones, since they feed the palm. The leaf stems are lined with sharp teeth, so wear thick gloves and long sleeves.
Does it need fertilizer?
A light feeding in the warm months helps, such as May and August, using a palm fertilizer. Skip feeding late in the season so it does not push tender growth before winter.
Is it a good palm near a pool?
It is a common pool palm because it drops very little litter. Plant it in a bed back from the deck, where people will not brush against the toothed leaf stems.
Is it poisonous to dogs or cats?
It is not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. The real concern is the sharp teeth on the leaf stems, so keep it away from where curious pets and kids play.
Mediterranean Fan Palm or Mexican Fan Palm?
Mexican Fan Palm is a fast, single trunk palm that can pass 40 feet. Mediterranean Fan Palm is slow and bushy and stays around 10 to 20 feet. For a spot near the house, the Mediterranean stays in scale.
Mediterranean Fan Palm for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Mediterranean Fan Palm is a slow, clumping fan palm that grows several trunks from one base. It takes Valley heat, reflected sun and freezing nights, and it stays compact for years. This page covers how big it gets, how fast it grows, how to water and trim it, and how it compares to other palms.
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How fast do Mediterranean Fan Palms grow in Arizona?
Slowly, about 6 inches a year. Regular summer water helps it grow a little faster. That slow pace is why it stays compact for years.
How big does a Mediterranean Fan Palm get?
Most reach 10 to 20 feet tall in Arizona and spread about as wide. Plan for a clump 10 to 15 feet across, and wider on older plants.
Mediterranean Fan Palm vs Mexican Fan Palm
Mexican Fan Palm is fast and grows on one tall trunk, often past 40 feet. Mediterranean Fan Palm is slow and bushy on several trunks. It fits yards where a tall palm would outgrow the space.
Mediterranean Fan Palm vs Pygmy Date Palm
Both are small, clumping palms for yards and patios. The Mediterranean handles hard freezes and dry spells better, while the Pygmy Date Palm wants more summer water and cover on the coldest nights.
Will a Mediterranean Fan Palm survive a freeze in the Valley?
Yes. It handles about 10°F with little or no damage, and plants have come through brief dips near 5°F. It is one of the most cold hardy palms you can plant.
Mediterranean Fan Palm around the pool
It drops very little litter, which makes it a common pool and patio palm. Give it a bed back from the deck so no one brushes the leaf stems.
When to trim a Mediterranean Fan Palm
It needs very little trimming. Remove only fronds that are fully brown and leave the green ones. Wear thick gloves, since the leaf stems carry sharp teeth.
How often to water a Mediterranean Fan Palm in Phoenix
Water deeply and let the soil dry between soaks. Once rooted, that is about every 5 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in winter.
One trunk or a clump?
It grows as a clump of trunks on its own. To keep a single trunk, cut new shoots off at ground level as they appear. Most people leave it as a clump for the fuller look.
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