Trachycarpus Fortunei-10 Seeds - Outdoor Perennial plant palm tree seeds for Home Garden Plant tropical ornamental Tree seed
Genus - Trachycarpus
Species - Fortunei
Other names - Trachycarpus excelsa, Chusan Palm
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Height - 20'-30' / 6.1m - 9.1m
Spread - 8'-10' / 2.4m - 3.0m
Plant type - Tree, Palm
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Well Drained
Water requirements - Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Landscape uses - Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Germination rate - 75%
Leaf / Flower color - Gray Green, Dark Green / Yellow
Plant growth rate - Medium
This is the most popular of the hardy palms. Its hardiness against cold is -15C. It is often the first hardy palm that many own. It is also probably the palm species best tested and documented for its frost resistance.
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
Sowing: Sow indoors at any time of year.
Soak the seed in warm water for two to three days; change the water each 24 hours.
The seeds can be started by either of these two methods:
1. The “Baggie” method, Place seeds in a plastic bag together with the moist sowing medium.
2. Sow into trays containing the sowing medium, Sow ¼in (6mm) deep uncover the medium to view the roots.
The best sowing medium is a sterile one. Perlite and vermiculite work well, as does coir otherwise a sterile peat/sand mix can be used. The medium should be barely damp but not wet. Be sure not to add too much water or the seeds will rot. More people kill seeds with water than anything else.
These seeds germinate at room temperature only 18 to 21°C (64 to 70°F). Do not use tropical greenhouses or heated propagator!
Check from time to time. They usually produce a long root some time before the shoot appears, it helps to examine seeds regularly, any of which have produced a root can be potted into 3in (7.5cm) pots of peat/sand mix and the remainder re-sown.
Transplanting:
Some seedlings may appear within 8 to 12 weeks others may take longer.
Transplant to deep pots (essential as they put down deep root systems) Pot either into small individual pots or group a few in one large pot to grow on.
Palms need warmth to grow well, if you don't provide warmth the roots struggle to take up nutrients and you more often that not get a sickly seedling that dies or turn yellow. Water only when they get dry. Keep at room temperature.
Cultivation:
For the first few months of its life the seedling gets all the nutrients and minerals it needs from the seed itself to help it establish a root system so that it can fend for itself. For seedlings the simplest method is to use 12 month release granules.
Size:
Initially growth is quite slow, once it reaches trunking size, growth is quite rapid, capable of growing up to 0.5 metre of trunk per year. Usually 60 to 180cm (2 to 6ft) in medium-sized gardens but ultimately 10 to 12m (33 to 40ft), after a century or so in a good climate.
Windmill Palms have a rather slender single stem that is 8 to 10 inches 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 fibre. In older individuals the fibre sloughs away to reveal a smooth ringed surface.
Cold Tolerance:
This palms prefers cooler, temperate areas, and struggles in the tropics.
Lower tolerance limits of −15 to −20°C (-26 to -29°F) are cited for mature plants.
Young plants are less hardy, and can by damaged by only −8°C (17°F)
