Trachycarpus Fortunei, also known as Fortune's Scrub, is one of the most hardy palms. It is therefore suitable for the outdoors in our climate and thus enjoys an ever-growing popularity among lovers of exotic plants. The Trachycarpus palm will delight you with its large, fan-shaped leaves, which will also be an unusual decoration for your home or flat.

Trachycarpus Fortunei - characteristics

Trachycarpus Fortunei is native to the mountainous areas of southern and central China and Japan. It grows there as high as 2,000 m above sea level. Trachycarpus Fortunei is a slender palm for pot cultivation. The plant's distinguishing feature is its large, elongated, elegant leaves, which take on a fan shape. Their upper surface is dark green, while a silvery tarnish appears on the reverse side. The stem of the scrub, which reaches up to 25-35 cm in diameter in the wild, is covered with characteristic brown fibres that fall off with age. Therefore, in older specimens, they are absent from the lower part of the trunk. The trachycarpus palm develops fringed inflorescences of fragrant yellow flowers. These appear on palms that reach a minimum of 1 m in height. After flowering, the plant bears black fruits covered in bluish wax, whose clusters resemble grapes. Under domestic conditions, unfortunately, the palm does not flower.

How fast does the trachycarpus fortunei palm grow?

Fortune's rough palm grows slowly. It is an evergreen palm that, in the ground, can reach heights of up to about 12 m in the wild. When grown at home, in a pot, the trachycarpus palm grows much more slowly and is usually less than 2.5 m tall.

Trachycarpus palm cultivation

Trachycarpus Fortunego is not a complicated plant to grow. It adapts quickly to the prevailing conditions.

✔️ position

The plant likes a sunny location. However, it should be sheltered from the wind, which can damage the palm leaves in strong gusts. So plant it next to buildings. Important: avoid planting the plant in areas where water floods during snowmelt or heavy downpours. You can plant it in the ground, where it will add beauty to your garden. If left in a pot, it will decorate your terrace. However, it needs to be moved to a cool room for the winter, as it will not overwinter outside in a pot.

✔️ soil

The rough palm prefers nutrient-rich soil with a slightly acidic pH. When judging a palm tree in a pot, a special soil for palms will work best. You can also use a substrate in the form of a mixture of pH-neutral all-purpose soil with gravel or perlite. It is advisable to fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of drainage, e.g. from expanded clay or small stones. If the palm tree is planted in the ground, ensure that the substrate is permeable. To do this, when planting, dig a larger hole, pick out soil from it and mix it with sand. Pour such a mixture into the bottom before planting the palm tree.

✔️ watering and fertilising

The trachycarpus palm is very drought tolerant, so water it sparingly and in moderation. Frequent or excessive watering can lead to root rot. When growing in a pot, ensure that the water does not stand in the saucer. Roughneck does not like pouring water over the stem. When the plant is growing strongly, feed it with a suitable fertiliser for palms or for green plants. It will make the leaves more prominent and vividly green.

✔️ pruning

To keep the trachycarpus palm looking nice, damaged and dead leaves should be trimmed regularly. However, it is not advisable to cut off leaves that have started to turn yellow, as they are still a source of nutrients. Similarly, those that have turned brown should not be pruned too early.

Frost-resistant trachycarpus palm

Trachycarpus Fortunego tolerates cold nights well and will not be harmed by temperature drops as low as -10°C. The plant can survive short frosts as low as -17-20°C. If you want to grow Palm tree in the garden, it is best to dig the palm into the ground with a pot and move it to a light room for the winter. In warmer regions of Poland, it is possible to try ground cultivation, but this is not possible without adequate protection and sometimes even additional heating. If the palm tree is to be overwintered outdoors or the overwintering room will not be heated, make sure that the root ball of the palm tree is well protected against frost.