« Browse By Botanical Name

Brahea calcarea

Accession Count: 2
Common Name: Sinaloa hesper palm, Oaxaca palm
Family Name: Arecaceae
Botanical Name: Brahea calcarea
Synonyms:
Botanical Synonyms: Brahea nitida
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics: Brahea calcarea is a slow-growing, medium sized palm, at maturity with a crown of 20-30 fan-shaped leaves, attaining a height of 30-36' and a spread of 8'-10'. It has a single, 12"-15" diameter trunk, possibly with a petticoat of dead leaves on the upper trunk, and/or covered for most, if not all its length with dark brown fiber and retained, un-split leaf bases. The leaves are palmate, nearly circular, shiny green, with droopy tips at maturity. The leaves divide into individual fingers from 1/3 to 1/2 past the stalk. This is the only Brahea species without a thorny petiole (leaf stalk). The flowers are arrayed in 8'-10' long plumes, usually drooping below the leaf crown, highly branched and somewhat untidy. The fruit are spherical, 1/2" in diameter, and yellow to orange when ripe.
Compound: Bra cal
Geographic Origin: Western and southern Mexico
Ecozone Origin: Neotropic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
B. calcarea is a rare palm species native to low rainfall areas of Mexico. It grows on dry limestone hills among pines and oaks at elevations between 3000' and 6600'. The flowers attract insects, birds are attracted to the fruit.
Cultivation Notes:
Locate this palm in full sun, well drained soil, and water sparingly. Thriving in USDA Hardiness zones 9-11, it will tolerate temperatures as low as 18F. It is very tolerant of soil types, dry heat, drought, and wind, but fares poorly in high humidity.
Ethnobotany:
B. calcarea is a uniquely attractive palm that is rarely seen in cultivation.
Height: 20 - 50 feet
Width: 6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate: Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Flower Season:
Color: White
Function:
Spread: Non-spreading
Allergen: Non-allergenic
Invasive: Benign
Toxicity: Benign
Hardy: Hardy
Water Use: Low water Use
Alert

Brahea calcarea