Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei
Also listed as Trachycarpus wagnerianus, Chamaerops fortunei
Also known as Chinese Windmill Palm, Chusan Palm, Chusan Fan Palm
Climate Match for your location
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A cold-hardy palm featuring distinctive fan-shaped green fronds and a characteristic shaggy brown fiber-covered trunk. It is one of the hardiest palms and can withstand freezing temperatures, making it suitable for cooler climates.
Why grow it
Trachycarpus fortunei outperforms most other palms in cold tolerance, surviving to USDA zone 7 and occasionally zone 6 with protection. It grows moderately in most temperate climates without the heat and humidity requirements of tropical palms, making it accessible to gardeners in cooler regions where palm cultivation would otherwise be limited.
Watch out for
Young plants benefit from some shelter and mulching in their first few years even in hardy zones, as they are less cold-tolerant before establishing. Growth is slow compared to frost-tender palms, so patience is required before the plant reaches landscape-scale maturity. In wet winter conditions, monitor for root issues and ensure planting in well-draining soil to prevent fungal problems.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Arecaceae
Native Range
China
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A cold-hardy palm featuring distinctive fan-shaped green fronds and a characteristic shaggy brown fiber-covered trunk. It is one of the hardiest palms and can withstand freezing temperatures, making it suitable for cooler climates.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Windmill Palm grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Trachycarpus fortunei outperforms most other palms in cold tolerance, surviving to USDA zone 7 and occasionally zone 6 with protection. It grows moderately in most temperate climates without the heat and humidity requirements of tropical palms, making it accessible to gardeners in cooler regions where palm cultivation would otherwise be limited.
Watch out for
Young plants benefit from some shelter and mulching in their first few years even in hardy zones, as they are less cold-tolerant before establishing. Growth is slow compared to frost-tender palms, so patience is required before the plant reaches landscape-scale maturity. In wet winter conditions, monitor for root issues and ensure planting in well-draining soil to prevent fungal problems.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Arecaceae
Native Range
China
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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