Native to northwestern Mexico the Mexican fan palm, thrives in arid regions from Baja California and Sonora, adapting well to areas with long, hot summers and mild winters. It has been widely introduced to subtropical and Mediterranean climates, including the southern United States, particularly in California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida, where it is a popular ornamental tree along streets, parks, and in large gardens. Known for its towering height, it can grow up to 100 feet tall, with a slender, straight trunk that slightly widens at the base. The tree's fan-shaped leaves form a distinctive, dense canopy that can develop into a “skirt” of dead leaves, hanging down around the trunk if left unpruned. This skirt offers refuge for birds and small mammals. The flowers, typically small and white, appear in long, arching clusters during spring and early summer. In autumn, these blooms give way to small, black, berry-like fruits that serve as a food source for birds and other wildlife; historically, indigenous peoples used these fruits for food. The It can withstand brief periods of frost. Photographed in Florida.