Trachycarpus fortunei

Common Names

Windmill Palm, Chusan Palm, Chinese Windmill Palm, Hemp Palm

Summary

Windmill palm, also called Chusan palm, is a hardy evergreen native to the mountainous regions of China and Japan, growing as a single trunk wrapped in a burlap-like coat with a crown of large fan-shaped leaves up to 1.9 m long. It reaches 3–12 m in height with a 2–3 m spread, has a slow growth rate, and bears summer yellow flowers with blue-black fruits on female plants.

Cultivation favors sun to partial shade in well-drained soil, with protection from strong winds; propagation is by seed; mature plants are hardy to about -15°C (USDA zones 7a–11) while young plants may be damaged below -8°C; outdoors in cool climates, in containers, or indoors in conservatories; drought-tolerant once established and relatively pest- and disease-resistant though scales and palm aphids may occur; uses include an accent or specimen plant, windbreak, or grouping, with wind shelter recommended.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

10-40 feet

Spread

6-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8a-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, fertile soil with organic matter, textures including loam, sandy loam, or silty substrates, neutral to slightly acidic pH, and avoidance of waterlogged or compacted soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Bright green on the upper surface with a lighter, ashen underside.

Fall Foliage Color

Green; evergreen, no fall color change.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

15–30 cm per year (about 6–12 inches per year), generally slow.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, basal shoots / suckers occasionally separated and grown like seedlings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, other pollinators, and birds