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Livistona chinensis

Chinese fan palm

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

Other common names
Chinese fountain palm
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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
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
H2
Botanical 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 peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full or bright indirect light. Water freely in the growing season and more sparingly in the winter. Apply a balanced 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

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