They tolerate salt spray and are drought-hardy once established. This palm can be truly immense and fast-growing. In warm climates plants can grow up to 100 feet tall. No plants have been grown to this size in the Southeast. The trunk can be up to 2 feet across.
Leaves are yellow-green and palmate with spiny stems.
In South Carolina this palm is considered hardy in zone 8b and marginally hardy in zone 8a. The large size and fast growth rate require special consideration in the landscape. It has moderate salt tolerance. This palm is native to Baja California and greatly resembles the California fan palm when young. The Mexican fan palm however, has a slender trunk usually less than one foot across.