Livistona chinensis

Common Names

Chinese Fan Palm, Fountain Palm, Chinese Fountain Palm, Serdang

Summary

Chinese fan palm, an evergreen subtropical palm native to East Asia, is slow-growing with a solitary trunk and a dense crown of large fan-shaped leaves whose drooping tips create a fountain-like silhouette; leaves reach about six feet in length, and the plant commonly grows to roughly 30 ft tall outdoors or about 6 ft indoors, and it is non-toxic to people and pets. It is widely grown as an indoor decorative plant or outdoor landscape feature.

Prefers bright indirect light and tolerates some direct sun, with warm, humid conditions and temperatures around 65–85°F; soil should be well-draining and kept moist but not soggy, with regular watering allowing the top layer to dry between waterings; use a pot with drainage holes; fertilize with slow-release palm fertilizer 3–4 times per growing season; propagate mainly by seeds; common pests include mealybugs, scale, and spider mites; diseases include leaf spot and root rot; hardy in USDA zones 9–11; landscape uses include specimen trees, street trees, parking-lot islands, and tree lawns, and it is also suitable as a container plant indoors.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-50 feet

Spread

10-12 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade; full sun preferred and shade-tolerant.

Soil Type

Well-draining, moist loamy soil rich in organic matter; pH 6.0–7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0–7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Bloom Color

Cream to creamy white, with pale yellow to yellowish tones

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; about 6-8 inches per year, up to 2-3 ft/year once established.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and other pollinators