PlantFiles: Mexican Blue Palm, Blue Hesper Palm, Gray Goddess
Brahea armata

In my experience, this palm is the easiest palm to grow in maricopa county arizona. It likes high pH soils and takes the heat as well as any palm I have tried. I have (6), planted from 15 gallon pots(2' tall) planted 2 to 2 1/2 years ago, with color variations from powder blue(no grey) to light blue-green to blue with shades of grey. My largest(~8' tall) have about 2' of trunk and are growing 6-8 new palms per year. At just after sunset and just before sunrise, when blue light(mie) scattering of the suns rays dominates the ambient light, these palms positively glow. I never water more frequently than a 7 day drip irrigation schedule in the hot summer once established, and about 12 days in winter, but I will spritz them with the hose frequently at the end of hot, dry days(>104, dry). Generally keep thirsty plants, and plantlines away from their roots as these palms prefer a complete dry cycle. Also, do not grow around grass as frequent watering will impact the dry cycle and negatively impact the health of this palm.

the grey goddes is an amazing specimen in terms of climate as for it is tolerant to a patio and even to a hardier direct sun sited environment, it requires lesser water and more heat (indirect preferred) it also stays as a contrast to its environment, i first placed him for two years in total shade and it shown as silver green and now it stays in an half direct sun light and half partial shady site, it shines almost white silvery, the humid of my garden in Lahore, Pakistan - it really enjoys the heat, it is a spectacular palm for an outrageous display of varied color transformation and speed in growth as compared to my other love the " bismark ", the extreme sensitive nature of him has really made me think out right for his regular precise water requirement. its new leaf takes almost three months to reach up to the hieght of the plant and an other month or so to open up and create a varied display, although the leaves are closely placed but when looked from beyond the actual picture resembles an intricate placement in aesthetical proportions like a being with brains and a thought pattern, it is in my opinion the most expressionistic and artistic of palms, the extreme hardy temprament is its prized attribute, it is a jewel in the crown to have one and to take care and make a soul mate, the most beautiful of nature's signature, this real goddess. its loved fertilizer is two to three years old cow dung on the upper layer of soil , slowly and very gradually it catches up in nutritional in take and shows regular growth results.

This is another palm rapidly becoming popular with landscapers, particularly in the warmer areas of the Southwest. It is prized for it's blue-green to silvery leaves, and incredibly showy flowers that droop way beyond the ends of the leaves. It is one of the hardier palms for this area (Southern California) and seems to be happy into the low 20s. The blue coloration on the leaves is a powder substance that helps it conserve moisture in the heat, reflect sun rays, and may even help it survive some cold. IT can easily be rubbed off on your hand. This palm is a moderately slow grower, though fast compared to most of the other 300 or so palm species that can be grown in So Cal. A 20 year old plant may have about 6-10 feet of trunk. Some plants in Mexico have reached heights over 30' but those are pretty rare. The trunk is bare once a few winters have hit it and pretty thick. Though very drought, wind and sun tolerant, it does pretty well in slightly shady areas of a nice green garden making an incredible contrast to the surround greenery. However it doesn't do well in humid climates (a few survive in Florida, but never look all that good).

One negative about this palm (and most Braheas for that matter) is its intolerance of being moved once established. So plant it where you want it to stay, since moving it later will probably kill it. For this reason large beautiful specimens are not worth financially because you can't sell them or move them (even large boxed specimens are touchy and a lot of care needs to be made when planting these).