Trachycarpus fortunei

Trachycarpus fortunei is a hardy, evergreen fan palm valued for its bold, architectural foliage and fibrous, textured trunk. Well-suited to Irish gardens, it thrives in full sun or light shade in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Provide shelter from cold, drying winds while young; once established it copes well with exposure. Minimal pruning is needed beyond removing old or winter-damaged fronds, and mature plants may produce small summer flower clusters.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun or light shade

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Fertile, moist but well-drained soil

Hardiness: Hardy (to around -15°C; RHS H5)

Plant at a Glance