When you think about palm trees you always imagine tropics. The Windmill palm can bring exotic and tropics to places with cold climates. It can survive snow and ice-storm. It is a very tough tree and  requires little maintenance. You can see  Trachycarpus Fortunei in many northern places on our planet such as Alaska, Ireland, Scotland and Canada. This is truly one of the hardiest palms on our planet. The Windmill palm is not only great for places with cold climates. This palm is perfect for tropical and sub-tropical regions as well.

The Windmill palm is a common Florida palm tree.

Additional information:

Scientific name:   Trachycarpus Fortunei

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Trachycarpus

Origin: It is native to Asia.

Growth rate: Moderate

Trunk: The trunk is single, upright, brown, hairy, fringed, resembling burlap. The Windmill palm grows up to 20 feet or more in height.  Thick fibers protect the trunk from coldness and ice.

Leaves: The leaves are fan-shaped, dark green or bright green in color.

Indoor/Outdoor Use: Both

Maintenance: Easy to moderate

Light exposure: It grows well in full sun or light shade. In hot climate it will grow beter in shady places. 

Water requirements: Moderate. It should be watered regulary.

Drought toleration:  This is a drought tolerant palm that can be easily grown in deserts.

Cold toleration: The Windmill palm is cold hardy. It can tolerate low temperatures about 5 F. Young trees are less hardy, and some of them may not survive coldness.

Flowers: The yellow flower stalk with pleasant aroma comes from below the leaves. The Windmill palms are dioecious, male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Female flowers are little bit more greenish that male flowers. 

Fruits: The Windmill palm produces blue-black, kidney-shaped  fruits that are 0.5 inch  in diameter. The Windmill palms start to produce fruits after 8-9 years.

Propagation: It is propagated by seeds.  The seeds germinate easily within 6 to 10 weeks.

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