Washingtonia robusta: My 10-Year Legacy Grown from Seed

Ten years ago while walking along the Derince coastline I spotted Washingtonia robusta seeds. Large, black seeds lying on the ground. I picked up a handful, brought them home and propagated them. They took.

Ten years have passed. One of those small seedlings has now grown taller than me. The fan leaves shimmer in the sunlight, that characteristic brown trunk stands proudly in the garden. Every time I look at it I feel both proud and reflective about how time passes.

These palms will outlive me in this garden. Perhaps my grandchildren will sit in their shade. Let this be noted here: these trees came from seeds collected from Washingtonia robusta specimens along the Derince coastline, propagated in 2014, grown in Sakarya soil.

Scientific Identity

Full name: Washingtonia robusta. Family: Arecaceae. Origin: Northwestern Mexico, Baja California peninsula. Common names: Mexican fan palm, Sky duster. Type: Single-trunked, fast-growing fan palm. Height: Can reach 25-30 meters in natural habitat. Difference from Washingtonia filifera: Slimmer trunk, faster growth, taller eventual height.

Growing from Seed

Growing Washingtonia robusta from seed requires patience but the reward runs very deep. Not a sapling bought from a shop but a tree grown in your own soil from seeds collected by your own hands. Every centimeter is your own effort.

Soaking seeds in water for 24-48 hours is recommended to encourage germination. Then waiting in a warm, moist environment, germinating within 4-8 weeks. Growth is slow in the first years as the root system deepens. From the fourth or fifth year it gains momentum. Washingtonia robusta grows much faster than filifera.

Summary of 10 Years

First year: A small, delicate seedling protected from wind and cold. Second and third year: Slow growth, root system deepening. Four to five years: Trunk becoming distinct, that characteristic brown scaly texture emerging. Six to seven years: Noticeable height gain. Eight to ten years: Now a real tree. It has grown taller than me.

From Coastal Palms to Garden Palms

Those Washingtonia robusta palms along the Derince coastline have perhaps been there for decades. They scatter their seeds everywhere. Collecting one and germinating it in different soil means carrying that plant's story to a new place.

In our garden now, children of the coastal palms are growing. They carry the story of Derince, of Sakarya and of this garden.

Characteristics of Washingtonia robusta

Washingtonia robusta is the slimmer-trunked and faster-growing of the two Washingtonia species. The trunk is wider at the base and narrows upward. Old leaves don't fall but hang down wrapping the trunk, forming what is called a petticoat of dried leaves. Some cut this off, we prefer to leave it. That skirt provides nesting habitat for birds and insects.

Slightly more sensitive to cold than Washingtonia filifera but can withstand down to -8 to -10 degrees. Suitable for Sakarya climate, our specimen proves this.

Permaculture and Legacy Gardening

One of permaculture's deepest principles: design for future generations. These Washingtonia robusta specimens are the concrete demonstration of exactly this principle. When I planted their seeds I couldn't fully see them growing this large, but now I see it. And this seeing is very beautiful.

These trees will outlive me. Consider starting from a Washingtonia robusta seed in your garden. Perhaps you won't see all of its growth. But someone will. And then this note, this blog post, will tell the story of those trees.