Palm tree with a sturdy trunk, thicker at the base with tightly-packed and not such evident rings as the Washingtonia robusta. The leaves are palm-shaped, very large and frayed and stay on the tree a fairly long time, attached to the trunk after drying. Look at the long and pendulous inflorescences full of aromatic flowers. They live forming small isolated groups in gorges through where water from wells and streams is filtered.

The scientific name was given to it in honour of the first president of the United States of America, George Washington, although popularly it has gained a much more charming name: petticoat palm, because of the accumulation of dry leaves around the trunk.