Livistona chinensis
Chinese fan palm
L. chinensis grows to 12m, with a stout trunk and long-stalked, fan-shaped leaves to 2m long, composed of drooping, linear segments. Panicles of cream flowers in summer, followed by glossy blue-green or pinkish fruits
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Cream | |||
| Autumn | Blue Green Pink | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Arecaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Livistona are single-stemmed, evergreen palms with long-stalked, fan-shaped leaves and small cream or pale yellow flowers borne in panicles among the leaves
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- S China to Vietnam, Temp. E Asia
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass or in containers for summering outdoors, grow in a loam based potting compost (JI No 3) in full or bright indirect light. Water freely in the growing season and more sparingly in the winter. Apply a blanced liquid fertiliser once a month during the growing period.
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in containers at 23C (73F) in the spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Sub-tropical
- Patio and container plants
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
Pruning is generally unnecessary
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insect
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.