Common Name: Chusan Palm

General Information

Trachycarpus fortunei is a s ingle-stemmed, evergreen tree with an erect, unbranched stem up to 12 metres tall and 15cm in diameter; this is topped by a crown of fan-shaped leaves with petioles up to 60cm long a.nd leaf blades to 120cm wide[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is cultivated for its fibre in China and Japan and is also often grown as an ornamental, especially in cooler temperate regions, where it is especially valued for its tolerance of cold weather[, , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, northern Myanmar

Habitat

Montane oak forests; at elevations from 100 - 2,400 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Trachycarpus fortunei is native to the temperate and subtropical zone in southern China and the Himalayas, being found at elevations up to 2,400 metres, where the climate is cool and wet in summer, cold and often snowy in winter. It is one of the most cold-tolerant palms and, when mature, plants have been known to survive occasional temperatures as low as -18°c[, , , ], though younger plants are more tender and can be damaged by temperatures down to about -8°c, especially if the plant is not sheltered from cold winds[, ]. Very young plants should be given some protection during their first winter or two outdoors[].
Requires a rich moist but well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[, ], especially from the cold drying winds of the north and east[]. Individual leaves live for about 3 years and, if they are damaged by wind will make the plant look very shabby as well as reducing its potential for photosynthesis[].
A fairly slow-growing plant, though it self-sows in S.W. England[].
Widely cultivated throughout China, Japan and S.E. Asia for the fibres within the leaf stalk[].
Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[]. Palms can also be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[].
The flowers are sweetly scented[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Young flower buds - cooked[, , ]. Used like bamboo shoots[]. The fresh flowers and terminal bud are also apparently consumed[].

Medicinal

The flowers and the seed are astringent and haemostatic[, ].

The root or the fruit is decocted as a contraceptive[, ].

The ashes from the silky hairs of the plant are haemostatic[, ]. Mixed with boiling water they are used in the treatment of haemopytsis, nose bleeds, haematemesis, blood in stools, metrorrhagia, gonorrhoea and other venereal diseases[].

Other Uses

The whole of the trunk from the ground upward is clothed with a thick moss of structural fiber which can be easily removed by hand, and only needs to be combed out and bundled in lengths to be a most valuable article[].
The fibres cloaking the trunk are used to make ropes and cloth, as a filling for matresses etc[, , , ].
The fibres from within the leafstalk are used for making brushes, ropes, coarse cloth etc[].
Fibres collected from the leaf bases are made into coats and other items such as brooms, brushes and doormats[].

A matting is made from the bark admixed with some of the stem fibres[].

The young leaves are woven into hats, rough coats and fans[, , , ].

A wax is collected from the fruits[].

Propagation

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[]. 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.