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Brahea Armata
A native from Central America and
Common names are blue hesper palm and Mexican blue palm. The epithet is Latin for armed.
The trunk is massive reaching heights of 16 meters and diameter of 45cm (in hot countries), it usually has a slightly bulging base and closely set, indistinct rings, and usually free of leaf bases. The leaf crown is full rounded and 4 to 5 meter wide and 6 meter tall. Leaves are distinctly bluish green, sometimes an icy blue and are circular.
The inflorescences grow from among the leaves and are long arching panicles of cream coloured bisexual flowers. The fruits are round 2cm wide, and black when mature. Brahea Armata demands full sun a well drained soil. It does best in slightly calcareous soils but grows in any medium as long as is not very acid. It is drought tolerant. Growth rate is slow to moderate in any condition. It will stand temperatures down to -8C
It is beautiful enough to be planted as a single specimen, its bluish starburst of leaves lending an unmatched fillip to other forms and colours.