A palm tree for the North

A Chinese windmill palm gives this Vancouver garden a tropical edge.

Snow is not an issue for the Chinese windmill palm.

Chinese windmill palms are found in garden throughout the temperate regions of B.C.

Palm fronds only emerge at the top of the tree.

Rhododendrons surround a palm tree in Vancouver, B.C.

Their trunks are shaggy from remaining old leaf sheaths.

This palm tree is dead due to prolonged cold snap killed the growing bud at the top of the tree.

​Common Name:  Chinese windmill palm
Botanical Name:  Trachycarpus fortunei
Form:    narrow upright with fan-shaped top
Family:  Arecaceae
Genus:  Trachycarpus
Species:  fortunei
Plant Type: palm
Mature Size:  10’ to 40’
Origin:  forested mountains of China
Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10
Foliage:  fan-shaped, evergreen, palmate, dark green up to 3’ wide with 2-3’ long petioles (leaf stems), segmented halfway results in drooping tips
Flowers: yellow, June to July, drooping panicles up to 2’ long, dioecious
Trunk: solitary trunk covered with fibers from old leaf sheaths
Fruit: dioecious: only on female trees, dark blue drupes
Water:  medium
Exposure:  sun to partial shade in protected locations
Soil:  organically rich, moist, well-drained
Uses:  winter interest, tropical accent, specimen, focal point
Invasive Tendencies: none
Pruning:  only remove dead palm fronds, no green ones
​
Comments: 
Throughout coastal British Columbia and on Vancouver Island, where winters are generally mild, Chinese windmill palms are a common sight. Among the Douglas fir, cedars and rhododendrons, these hardy palm trees add a delightful tropical flare to local gardens.  
 
The Chinese windmill palm is one of the hardiest of palm trees. They tolerate up to -12°C (10°F) but only for a very short time. They don’t mind BC’s soggy winters but prolonged stretches of severe freezing temperatures, and in early spring they do suffer and sometimes it’s fatal.
Grow Chinese windmill palms in protected locations, preferably close to the house or another structure that blocks cool winds from the north. Although they tolerate partial shade, they do better in full sun, except in more tropical zones.
Not all palm trees grow along sandy beaches. In fact, the majority don’t - including the Chinese windmill palm. It’s native to the forests of temperate and subtropical mountains of China where the soil is organically rich, moist and well-drained. Keep the roots warm in the winter and moist in the summer with a 3-inch layer of organic mulch.   
Winter Protection
It’s essential to protect windmill palms during the winter. They are most vulnerable during unusual cold snaps and when temperatures fluctuate in early spring.  The most vulnerable part of all palm trees is the central bud at the top of the tree where all the fronds emerge from. If this part dies, the tree dies. It won’t sprout new babies from the base or from the top. To protect the bud, cover it (if you can reach it) with burlap, frost blanket, old sheet or another breathable fabric. You can also wrap the trunk if you wish. Don’t use plastic as it will cause the bud to rot.
Adding 3 inches of an organic mulch on top of the soil insulates the soil from the cold and temperature extremes. Cover small trees with a frost blanket, sheets and other breathable fabric from its top to the ground. Place a small, low wattage incandescent bulb underneath the cover where the bud is. Don’t forget to remove after the danger of frost has passed. 

In cooler climates, locate the Chinese fan palm in a protected location.

The bud at the top of the palm tree is where leaves emerge.