The trunk of this palm is a distinctive feature and has strongly persistent woolly fibers that form a thick coat. It has been cultivated for thousands of years, particularly in China and Japan, so pinpointing where it originated has proven to be difficult. [4] It has often been treated as a separate species T. wagnerianus in popular works, but is now included within T. Thanks to this fresh variety, the Palm isn't relegated to only tropical locales. fortunei. In North America, mature specimens can be found growing in the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest, the upper southern states, and Mid-Atlantic states. However, do note that young windmill palms are a little less cold-hardy and generally cannot withstand temperatures lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Centigrade). Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. Windmill palms are also largely cultivated in outdoor spaces, such as gardens and parks, in subtropical and warm temperate climates around the globe. This brings it into a climate not only with cold winters, but also cool, moist summers. The Windmill Palm is ideal for small gardens as it does not branch, making it fit into small spaces, side-yards, and rock gardens. It can also be grown in full sun, but the trunk will be stouter and shorter. The trunk is also covered with thick brown hair-like fibers. If multiples are planted close together, the Windmill Palm creates a cluster or grove in tropical garden schemes. The palm leaves are 18 to 36 inches. She has an affinity with nature and loves to share her knowledge gained over a lifetime with readers online. Note that this plant should be planted in sheltered sites when grown in Zone 7. Beccari, Odoardo: 1931 "Asiatic Palms, Corypheae", Martius, Carl Friedrich Philipp von: 1850, Stührk, Chris: 2006 "Molekularsystematische Studien in der Subtribus Thrinacinae, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Gattung Trachycarpus H. Wendl". Avoid placing fertilizer directly up against the trunk. You can also start it indoors until it gets too big. Though they are not native to North America, they can sustain in USDA zones 8a through 11. If you choose to grow yours outdoors, make sure to select a location where it will be protected from the wind. The fan palms (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae; palms with fan-shaped leaves) include all of the hardiest palms.Windmill Palms (Trachycarpus fortunei, T. takil) – is considered the most cold hardy palm in the world.These tough species are native to eastern China and the Himalaya mountains where severe (though brief) winter conditions occur. The Windmill palm grows up to 25 ft (7.5 m) and has a fairly slim trunk that measures around 8″ (20 cm). Beccari, Odoardo: 1920 "Recens Palme Vecchio Mondo". For best results, horticulture experts recommend fertilizing these palms on a monthly basis during the growing season, applying 0.5 to 2 pounds of fertilizer to the soil per month; mature trees should be fed more and younger trees should be fed less. Short of lifting the plant’s skirts, it can be difficult to identify the plant’s gender without a professional. The Chinese palm does not have any specific feeding requirements. Propagation Windmill palm seeds will germinate in 8 to 12 weeks without a lot of fuss. Initially yellow, the fruits turn a dark bluish-black color when they ripen in the fall. The trunk is covered with a loose mat of coarse gray or brown fiber and is a bit narrower at … This evergreen perennial palm tree has long slender trunks that can grow up to 66 ft. (20 m) tall. Beccari, Odoardo: 1905 "Le Palme del Genere Trachycarpus". It is a somewhat variable plant, especially as regards its general appearance; and some specimens are to be seen with leaf segments having straight and others having drooping tips. If planted in poor draining soil or if watered too frequently, they can develop root rot. In 1849, Fortune smuggled plants from China to the Kew Horticultural Gardens and the Royal garden of Prince Albert of the United Kingdom. The Windmill palm tree, Trachycarpus fortunei has been grown in Europe for centuries, where it was imported from China, its native habitat. Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus Wagnerianus) The windmill palm is native to China and is medium in size, typically growing to 25 feet tall with leaves measuring 3 feet across. GardenBeast is an online publication which launched in 2019 with the aim of providing the latest news, in-depth how-to guides and reviews of popular products to help you make the most from your back yards and gardens. 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