Trachycarpus fortunei
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- trak-ee-KAR-pus for-TOO-nee-eye
- Description
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A palm tree in the Arecaceae family brings a tropical flair to any landscape. It makes a great specimen plant or is effective in small groups. Use it to frame an entryway or garden path. It has a solitary trunk that appears shaggy and hairy with leftover dried petioles from shed leaves. Fibers from the leaves are often used in weaving. The leaves spiraling out in all directions from the top of the plant resemble a windmill, hence the common name. It can be grown in large containers and overwintered indoors in colder climates. In a protected location it is hardy to zone 7. This palm is moderately salt tolerant. The genus name Trachycarpus derives from Greek and roughly translates to "rough fruit".
Seasonal Interest:
Foliage: Evergreen Bloom: Summer, June-July Bark: Winter
Wildlife Value: This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or diseases problems. For a palm, it has excellent winter hardiness but it may suffer in the cooler parts of the state.
Quick ID
- Petioles sharply toothed
- Leaves palmately divided, 15-10 segments
- Leaf segments single-fold
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trachycarpus
- Species:
- fortunei
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- In China, this plant is often used in the making of rope, brooms, mat, and cloth.
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and eastern China.
- Play Value:
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are fan-shaped to circular, palmately dissected, 15-19 segments; segments linear, single-fold, apices slightly drooping.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is fibrous
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are clustered. The basal portion is covered with fibrous leaf bases; petioles to 3 ft, sharply dentate.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
