The Washingtonian palm gets its name from the first president of the United States, George Washington. This genus is a member of the Areca family and unites only 2 species, namely Washingtonia robusta and Washingtonia nitensis.

The Washingtonia palm is a tree that can reach about 25 meters in height and up to one meter across. However, it reaches this size only in natural conditions. On top of its trunk, it has fan-shaped leaf laminae. The petiole is about one and a half meters long and has spines that point toward the trunk. When grown at home the palm blossoms very rarely.

In Mexico and the United States its foliage fibers are used to make baskets and its fruits are used to make flour. In Europe it is cultivated on the southern coast of the Mediterranean. When cultivating it indoors, consider that this plant needs coolness as well as space. Once the palm becomes very large, it is advisable to move it outside, but only when the weather conditions are favorable for this.