Windmill Palm / Chusan Palm
Scientific Name: Trachycarpus fortunei
Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade. It can handle full sun, but in hot Florida landscapes it often looks best with some afternoon shade or filtered light.
Height: Typically 10–20 ft. tall in Florida landscapes, though older specimens can reach 25–40 ft. in ideal conditions.
Plant Spacing: Space about 8–10 ft. apart for individual accent palms or loose groupings. For a tighter tropical cluster, space about 6–8 ft. apart, while allowing room for the fan-shaped crowns to spread.
Growth Habit: Slow-growing, single-trunk fan palm with a narrow upright trunk covered in coarse brown fibers and a rounded crown of stiff, fan-shaped fronds.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8–11; one of the most cold-hardy trunking palms and can tolerate brief temperatures around 10°F once established; moderately drought tolerant once established but looks best with regular watering; moderate salt tolerance, but best protected from heavy direct coastal salt spray.
Maintenance Info: Low to moderate maintenance. Remove dead fronds as needed and use palm fertilizer during the growing season. Good drainage is important, and the trunk’s fibrous texture is usually left natural for appearance. In very hot, exposed Florida locations, some afternoon shade can help keep the foliage looking cleaner.
Best Uses in the Landscape: Excellent for entryway accents, courtyard plantings, shaded tropical beds, small-yard specimen planting, pool-area accents, and landscapes where a cold-hardy palm look is needed. It works especially well in areas where more tropical palms may be too freeze-sensitive.
Plant Info: Windmill Palm is native to parts of China and nearby regions of eastern Asia. The name “Windmill Palm” comes from the circular fan-shaped leaves, which can resemble the blades of a windmill. It is popular because it gives a tropical palm look while handling colder temperatures better than most palms, making it a strong choice for customers who want a palm with a little extra cold protection.
