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Palms

Trachycarpus wagnerianus

windmill palm

A robust slow-growing evergreen palm forming a small tree with smaller, divided, fan-shaped, rigid, dark green leaves up to about 60m across making it more wind tolerant. The arching sprays of small, light yellow flowers are produced infrequently.

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or 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)

Botanical details

Family: Arecaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
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: China, Japan

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or light dappled shade. The smaller, stiffer foliage makes it more wind damage resistant and suitable for exposed gardens, though best planted where protected from cold, drying winds. Especially younger specimen would benefit from protection during periods of hard frost. Well suited for container cultivation.

Propagation

Propagate by seed, germinate at 24°C.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Mediterranean climate plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove old, dead leaves.

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease free

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