Trachycarpus fortunei

RHS Plant Profile
Chusan palm

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Chusan palm RHS 2001
Chusan palm visionspictures.com
Chusan palm visionspictures.com

Other common names

Chinese windmill palm, hemp palm, Nepalese fan palm, windmill palm

Synonyms

Trachycarpus excelsus misapplied
Chamaerops excelsa misapplied
Chamaerops fortunei
Trachycarpus takil misapplied

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An evergreen palm, forming a small tree, with a stout, fibre-covered trunk bearing a terminal tuft of deeply divided, fan-shaped dark green leaves to 1m in width. Large, arching sprays of small, light yellow flowers appear in summer followed by small, kidney-shaped yellow to blue-black fruits in the autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Arecaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Trachycarpus are dioecious evergreen palms with stout, solitary stems bearing rounded leaves palmately divided into linear segments, with pendulous panicles of small flowers followed on female plants by globose fruits
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
N Myanmar to SC China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or lightly dappled shade. Needs protection from strong or cold drying winds and will need protection from hard winter frosts. Can also be grown as a conservatory or warm glasshouse specimen

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by removing and potting up suckers

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Mediterranean climate plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free