How to Grow and Care for the Mediterranean Fan Palm
A native of the hilly regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean fan palm is one of the more versatile members of the palm family quite simple to grow and care for. Able to withstand much colder temperatures than most of its more tropical cousins, the Mediterranean fan palm can thrive in areas where winter temperatures dip as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Learn how to grow and care for the Mediterranean fan palm, for a touch of the tropics in a temperate clime.
Mediterranean fan palms are well suited to container growing, so feel free to start one in a pot and try it out in different locations around your patio or entryway. Pick a container twice as wide and twice as deep as the palm's root ball. Depending on your preference for the look of the plant as it grows, you can trim the leaves from the trunk for an elegant treelike appearance, or you can let the fronds sprout and flourish naturally for a more shrub-like effect.
The Mediterranean fan palm displays a lush growth of blue-green leaves clustered in a compact, fan-shaped frond arrangement. The trunk tends to curve as the plant grows larger. Mediterranean fan palms can attain heights of 15 feet. In addition to being remarkably cold-hardy, the Mediterranean fan palm can be drought-tolerant as well. However, your Mediterranean fan palm is at its best in rich soil with plenty of water. Full sun exposure is optimum.
You can transplant your Mediterranean fan palm from a container to the ground, but watch out for the sharp, spiny projections on the trunk. When transplanting, make sure the root ball has an allowance of at least 2 feet on all sides of the trunk.
Whether it's one striking plant in a large container on your patio, or a row of trees planted together to form a natural screen, the sturdy and easy-to-care-for Mediterranean fan palm can be a beautiful addition to your landscape.
