The trunk of the windmill is covered by a fibrous mat of "hair" that falls off slowly as the palm matures. The windmill palm grows up to 20 feet in height with a 10-foot spread. Incredibly easy to grow, Windmill Palm is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. 12 years ago. The windmill palm thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11 in the southern and western coastal states, but is not native to the United States. One of the hardiest palms, Chinese windmill palm has single stems with large, 4-foot-wide fans of sword-like leaves. Tips for Growing Chinese Windmill Palms. USDA Zones 7B-10. Chinese windmill palms may be shoot-hardy to Zone 6 if protected with 10 inches of mulch. Fan palms. Windmill palm trees look very decorative planted in a … It is one of the hardiest palms growing in the mountains of southern China. They are hardy throughout all of Zone 8, and most of Zone 7 if planted in a sheltered site. If a palm is hardy to zone 7, that means it can withstand lowest temperatures of that zone. This winter was brutal in zone 6 Ontario. This palm is a slow grower. The Windmill palm only grows approximately 1 foot a year. Thanks to this fresh variety, the Palm isn't relegated to only tropical locales. Windmill palms are hardy palms that grow in zones 8a – 11. As you can see, how to plant a windmill palm tree has an answer that is quite easy. This is a hardy palm and can withstand subfreezing temperatures. The Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) can withstand temperatures as low as 10 F and is recommended for Zones 7B-11. Try as I might, I have never been able to get this to survive winters in our Raleigh garden (Hardiness Zone 8b-10) Trachycarpus (Windmill Palm) Trachycarpus is a group of 8-9 species of trunked palms, native primarily to Asia. In USDA zones below this, it will need winter protection or planted in a container to bring indoors for winter. Windmill palm has a rather slender single stem that is 8-10 in (20-25 cm) in diameter and is typically a bit narrower at the base than at the top. Windmills have survived temperatures as low as 11 degrees without permanent damage. Their name comes from the windmill form that the splaying fronds create at the trunk’s crown. They both are acclimated for cold weather and both have a fibrous trunk which keeps the cold at bay. The specimen in the above image is only a baby. It is fast-growing and trouble-free and will bring a touch of the exotic to any garden. Winter hardy to zone 7 in protected locations, Trachycarpus fortunei is quite cold-hardy and can survive short periods at 5ºF (-15ºC). When planting the Windmill palm either around a patio or sitting area they should be spaced at least 6 to 10 feet apart. Read on for information about palm trees for zone 6. The windmill palm is a common name given to palms in the botanical group Trachycarpus, the most widely grown windmill palm species being Trachycarpus fortunei and Trachycarpus wagnerianus. The windmill palm, Trachycarpus fortunei, is the most cold hardy of the arborescent palms found anywhere in the world – at least as far as we know.Originating from central China and adjacent parts of southeast Asia, it is grown in far flung parts of the world these days, withstanding surprising amounts of cold, wintry weather. I suspect that in most of the colder USDA hardiness zones, this palm tree will stay on the shorter side of those measurements. Windmill fan palms, as they're sometimes called, are considered moderately drought-tolerant once they're established, and can take full sun to partial shade or even all day light shade. This is the plant used to produce an herbal extract thought to improve urinary tract problems. Note that this plant should be planted in sheltered sites when grown in Zone 7. Native Area: Florida USDA Growing Zones: 7–11 Height: 3–6 feet Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade The slow-growing palm trees eventually grow to between 10 and 20 ft. (3 – 6 m). This is not generally considered palm tree territory, but zone 6 palm trees can happen. Enjoy the warm tropical looks on a cold, northern winter day with a windmill palm growing outside your window. They don't really form trunks, but a windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) will need protection every year to survive zone 6 but will form trunks. Now that spring in beginning that leaf is opening up.The older leaves are dying off. Applying zone references. Fruit. Windmill Palm Trees are one of the most cold hardy palms available. The Chinese Windmill Palm, also known as Trachycarpus fortunei, is a cold-hardy palm tree than can be cultivated as far north as Southern Virginia and Tennessee. Picture of 9' Windmill Palm in bloom, zone 4. arctictropical. The trunk of your windmill palm might get 10-to-14 inches thick. The Windmill Palm Tree, also known as the Chinese Windmill Palm or the Chusan Palm, is the most cold hardy of the trunked palm tree varieties. In the palm profile you might have seen reference to zone or range of zones. Description. Distribution and habitat: Trachycarpus fortune is a palm native to central China, south to northern Burma and northern India, growing at altitudes of 100 to 2400m (328–7874 feet). The Best Cold Hardy Palm Why Windmill Palm Trees? It sat there all growing season and in the early fall began to put out a new leaf. The Windmill palm can reach heights up to 40 feet tall but most top out at 25 feet with a frond spread up to 10feet. Refer to Zone … Propagation Windmill palm seeds will germinate in 8 to 12 weeks without a lot of fuss. I have a friend that has a ~30 foot tall windmill palm that bloomed last year. Windmill palm is one of the most cold-hardy palms available. For those who are in zone denial, here is a picture of a 9' palm in bloom in zone 4. Demonstrating excellent winter cold tolerances, windmill palms are naturally slow-growing, but their pace of growth can be hastened with consistent soil moisture, an even fertilizer regimen and … Many landscapers and palm enthusiasts will choose the windmill palm as a replacement for the popular Mexican fan palm in colder areas due to it’s ability to survive much colder winters that the Mexican fan palm … Learn how to plant a palm … It produces large plumes of yellow flowers in early summer; the flowers of female plants transform into bluish-black fruits. The fan palms (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae; palms with fan-shaped leaves) include all of the hardiest palms.Windmill Palms (Trachycarpus fortunei, T. takil) – is considered the most cold hardy palm in the world.These tough species are native to eastern China and the Himalaya mountains where severe (though brief) winter conditions occur. Hardy Palm Trees. It u sually grows to about 25 feet in most areas but has been known to grow to 40 feet. • The Windmill palm tree, Trachycarpus fortunei, also is called a Chusan palm and a Chinese Windmill palm tree, was imported from Japan, perhaps first, into the United States, but most botanists believe that this palm tree originated in China, where many seed and specimen trees were purchased to … I live in Richmond, Virginia (Zone 7 ) Last spring I set out a Windmill Palm in a protected area. Sabal 'Birmingham' has been grown in zone 6 and will eventually form a trunk and is probably cold hardy enough to … Microclimate The typical height for the windmill palm is 10 to 20 feet, but it is possible for this tree to reach a height of 30 feet. Trachycarpus fortunei, the Chinese windmill palm, windmill palm or Chusan palm, is a species of hardy evergreen palm tree in the family Arecaceae, native to parts of China, Japan, Myanmar and India. It is shade tolerant and grows in almost any soil and location. Mature trees can generally survive temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Windmill palm trees are very good trees for cold winters. It produces large, dangling sprays of small, light yellow flowers in summer which give way to dark blue fruits. Last year was no challenge, very mild winter. Do hardy palm trees exist that can take below-zero temperatures? Beginners Wholesale and retail palms, delivered to your door across the East Coast of Australia. Cold hardiness: Windmill palms are some of the hardiest palm trees, and are about the only palms truly well adapted to colder climates. If your outside USDA zone includes the Windmill Palm, I would definitely include this species in your landscape design. Its character of a slender petite trunk with a full head of dark green palmate leaves gives any landscape a classy look, fit for royalty (Grows in Zones 5-10. This palm is known to withstand temperatures as cold as 0 degrees Fahrenheit for a brief period of time. I purchased it as a 1 gallon size plant, kept it in house for two years and then planted it outside about 6-7 years ago. Learn about cold hardy palm trees, including European fan palm, Chinese windmill palm and cabbage palm, from the experts at HGTV Gardens. Trunks are usually covered with a loose mat of coarse gray or brown fiber. The Windmill Palm can easily withstand annual winter temperatures dipping from 0F to -10F without any significant damage to its dark lustrous leaves. As for the windmill palm that "has taken several nights below zero with no damage", see the linked discussion (on another discussion board) for the actual facts about this particular palm. The large palm-shaped leaves have saw-like teeth along the edges, lending the plant its common name. Windmill palm is among one of the most frost-tolerant palms available and is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 10. The palm leaves are 18 to 36 inches. The Windmill Palm has similar characteristics as the Mediterranean Fan palm. Windmill Palm Trees. Given enough time (Windmill Palms grow less than 8 inches per year), it will likely … Most people think of palms as tropical plants, but the Chinese Windmill Palm, which is also known as Chusan Palm (trachycarpus fortunei) proves that palms can also grow in cold-hardy zones. Another characteristic that makes the windmill palm cold hardy is the fibers that cover the trunk that insulates the tree. They range from the dwarf Trachycarpus nanus at 3' to Trachycarpus fortunei, which can top out at 40'. If there is a range of zones like 7-10, that means it can grow only in those zones and will not tolerate colder or warmer temperatures. The Windmill Palm will grow easily in zones 7, 8 and 9 and can even be grown in sheltered spots in the warmer parts of zone 6. If you live in zone 6, your winter temperatures dip down to zero and sometimes even to -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 C.). Because the Windmill Palm is one of the most cold hardy palms available on the market today, it's a dream come true for those who want island-inspired good looks in colder climates. They grow about one foot each year and the slow growth of the windmill palms contributes to their cold hardiness. In its native habitat, this tough palm is sometimes subjected to a cover of snow and ice. 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