Sarukhan's Hesper Palm

Sarukhan’s hesper palm is Brahea sarukhanii, an accepted palm species from the Mexican states of Nayarit and Jalisco. [Kew](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/1016160-1) describes it as a tree of seasonally dry tropical habitat, and [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/n/1016160-1) records its original 2000 publication. ## Form and garden character Brahea palms have large, fan-shaped leaves, giving the genus a strong architectural outline as it matures; the [Royal Horticultural Society’s Brahea profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/204811/brahea-pimo/details) describes this genus-level feature. Kew records this species as a tree native to southwestern Mexico, so allow room for a trunk and full crown rather than treating it as a small understory plant. The [Cambridge University Botanic Garden account of Mexican Brahea palms](https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/collections/collecting-expeditions/mexican-braheas-2019/) notes that species in this genus occupy varied environments, from humid understories to open, arid sites. ## Siting Use the species’ seasonally dry native habitat as a clue: provide drainage and avoid leaving roots waterlogged. Protect young palms from damaging cold, and assess local exposure before planting in a cold-prone site. ## Maintenance Keep the crown intact and remove only completely dead leaves. Do not prune healthy green fronds for shape; allow the palm to develop its natural upright crown.