About
Flowering is sparse but mature specimens produce large, branched, yellow-brown clusters of small flowers followed by small, yellow fruit. A fan palm with large, evergreen leaves up to 60cm across, waxy-white underneath, and divided into as many as 48 narrow segments. The trunk may retain a loose, fibrous covering of old leaf bases, or these may fall away.
About the 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
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typePalms
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
Height8-12 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Mediterranean climate plants
Native toChina
Care notes
CultivationGrow in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or lightly dappled shade. Needs protection from strong or cold, drying winds, strong sunlight when young, and hard, winter frosts. Can also be grown as a conservatory or warm glasshouse specimen. See palm cultivation outdoors and palm cultivation indoors
PruningCut off old leaves close to the trunk
PropagationPropagate by seed
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free outdoors; may be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite under glass
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free