Product Review

Windmill palm is one of the most cold-hardy palms available. It is beautifully compact and grows to heights of 20-40 ft (6.1-12.2 m). Windmill palm has a rather slender single stem 8-10 in (20-25 cm) in diameter and is typically a bit narrower at the base than at the top. Trunks are usually covered with a loose mat of coarse gray or brown fiber. In older individuals, the fiber sloughs away to reveal a smooth, ringed surface. Chusan palm, as it is also commonly called, has light to dark green palmate leaves that are lighter--almost silvery (glaucous)--on the underside. They are held on thin 3 ft (0.9 m) flattened stems that are finely toothed along both edges. Leaves are circular, about 3 ft (0.9 m) in diameter, and segmented about halfway. They are flat with leaf segment tips held stiffly, but occasionally you will see individuals with droopy tips. Leaves are arranged into a symmetrical crown about 8-10 ft (2.5-3 m) wide. Specimens grown in full sun and/or under poor conditions may have much smaller, more compact crowns. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants (so this palm is said to be dioecious). They are densely arranged on 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m) long, branched stalks called an inflorescence. The windmill palm's bright yellow inflorescence erupts from a packet-like bud in late winter and early spring and is held within the crown. On female plants, the flowers are followed in late summer by round or oblong blue fruits about 1/2 in (1.3 cm) in diameter. Proper name: Trachycarpus fortunei. Family: Palmae/Arecaceae (palm family). Common Names: Windmill palm, Chusan palm, Chinese windmill palm.