Palms   Brahea decumbens

Common Names: Mexican Dwarf Blue Palm, Sierra Madre Palm Distribution: Sierra Madre Mountains, north-eastern Mexico. Habitat: Exposed, rocky limestone hills. Description: A small, clumping palm with a decumbent trunk up to 2m long, and a rounded crown of striking, steel blue leaves. The inflorescence is erect, and stands above the foliage. Offsets and seedlings have green leaves, rather than the bluish colour of the mature plants.

Figure 1. B. decumbens showing the striking leaves.

General:
Very popular with palm collectors, but still rare in general cultivation.

Culture:
Sunny, very well drained position. Slow growing. Very tolerant of drought, and frost. Good for temperate climates.

Figure 2. B. decumbens in habitat, Mexico.

Figure 3. B. decumbens

Contributed by:	Richard Travis (Figure 1&2)
	Michael Calonje (Figure 3)

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