Trachycarpus nanus
Becc.
Arecaceae
Trachycarpus dracocephalus Ching & Y.C.Hsu
Common Name:
General Information
Trachycarpus nanus is a solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm with a mainly subterranean stem that is around 5cm in diameter. In very old plants the stem can sometimes grow 30cm or more above ground level. The plant produces a crown of fan-shaped leaves at the top of the stem, each leaf around 50cm wide on a petiole around 12 - 25cm long[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Trachycarpus nanus is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2004)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
Range
E. Asia - southern China (Yunnan)
Habitat
Dry forests or open areas on mountains; at elevations from 1,800 - 2,300 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Endangered |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Trachycarpus nanus is a somewhat cold-hardy plant, known to have withstood short-lived temperatures down to at least -4°c.
A very slow-growing species[
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
Brushes are made from bundles of the leaves[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Propagation
Seed - sown fresh it usually germinates in 30 - 60 days.
Scarify or pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water then sow in a cold frame in mid to late winter. Bring into the greenhouse about 4 - 6 weeks later and the seed should germinate in about 4 - 8 weeks at 25°c[
133- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 1.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rice. G. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.
Pot up suckers in late spring and plant out in their permanent position 12 months later.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
