Guadalupe Palm

Guadalupe palm (Brahea edulis) is a slow-growing, evergreen fan palm native to Guadalupe Island, Mexico. It develops a stout single trunk, broad green leaves, and arching flower clusters; its mature fruit is edible, though the ornamental palm is generally grown for its architectural form. ## Form and size The [Royal Horticultural Society](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/60348/brahea-edulis/details) describes a single-stemmed palm that can reach 8–12 m (about 26–39 ft), with a 2.5–4 m spread. The [University of Arizona Campus Arboretum](https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=862) reports a mature size near 45 ft high by 15 ft wide and notes that growth is slow. The [Auckland Botanic Gardens profile](https://www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/plants-for-auckland/plants/brahea-edulis/) similarly gives about 10 m high by 5 m at the crown. Actual size depends on age and growing conditions. ## Siting Choose full sun and very well-drained soil. The University of Arizona recommends infrequent deep watering, with more frequent irrigation during extreme heat, and notes that the species tolerates a broad range of soil pH. Protect young palms from hard freezes; mature plants can tolerate colder conditions than seedlings. ## Maintenance This palm does not need regular shaping. Remove only dead or damaged fronds, and keep protective footwear and gloves on when working around mature leaf stalks. Water deeply but infrequently after establishment, increasing water during hot weather or when the palm is young. For container culture in cooler regions, grow in bright light and water less during winter. ## San Luis Obispo County source condition The [county’s January 2014 plant list](https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/planning-building/forms-documents/environmental-forms-and-documents/plants-information/county-approved-plant-list) assigns F3 with an explicit condition: retained dead fronds create a fire hazard. F3 is its transitional category for plants that grow back after fire, rather than a promise that a palm will not burn. Remove dead fronds and prevent an accumulation of dry leaf skirts. The county also requires suitable soil moisture, separated planting groups, removal of dead material and prevention of ground-to-canopy fuel connections.