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James H. Schutte
Arecaceae
TRACHYCARPUS fortunei
Chinese Windmill Palm, Windmill Palm
A popular cultivated palm for warm temperate to cool subtropical landscapes, windmill palm is admired for its large, dark green, fan-shaped leaves. This native of central eastern Asia is among the most cold hardy of palms (arguably the hardiest that forms a tall trunk). In warm months, this evergreen indiscriminately bears attractive clusters of tiny yellow flowers. Those with female flowers are followed by blue-black fruits (male and female flowers exist on separate plants). This palm is commonly single stemmed and its trunk is dark gray-brown and covered with thatchy, coarse fibers.
Windmill palm grows best in full sun to partial shade. It can tolerate a wide range of soils, but excels in those with good drainage and warms quickly outside of winter; avoid thin sands. It isn't the best palm for regions with very hot summers and warm winters. From warm temperate to subtropical regions it makes an attractive, architectural tree for foundation or landscape beds. They are particularly attractive grouped in clusters with varying heights.
10 - 7
7 - 10
H1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Palm or Cycad
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
20'-30' / 6.1m - 9.1m
8'-10' / 2.4m - 3.0m
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Eastern Asia, China
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Clay, Loam
Drought, Salt
Medium
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Upright/Erect
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Yellow
Dark Blue, Black
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Brown, Chocolate, Gray
No
Single
Yes
Bold
Glossy
Exfoliating
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
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