Trachycarpus Fortunei

Hi went out to the Garden centre this morning as the sun was out,The Gc was having a sale 50% of all plants and shrubs I got this palm(Trachycarpus Fortunei) as had read they are hardy.The plant i got was 2.5ft high and only cost £5.99:thmb:
Am well chuffed as this is the first plant i have brought for our neww garden,cant wait for the summer:yho:

 

Hi there - I am glad you are happy with your buy. Watch out for severe frosts though.

Dont know where you are, but we have them for sale at our nearby garden centre for the same price.... not in a sale!

 

Good buy, they are hardy anywhere in the UK but sometimes suffer damage from wind and chlorosis turning the leaves yellow.
They do take a while to become established but if planted in the ground and not disturbed you sholud have a very long lived palm.

 

Hi planning to plant in ground as found with my cordyline they do so much better

 

Hi what is chlorosis and how do you avoid itprevent it?

 

Yellowing of the leaves, this is common in Trachycarpus and is normally caused by nutrient defficiency although bad drainage, a high pH level or damaged compacted roots can aid chlorosis. Nitrogen and Manganese are the best nutrients too help keep the leaves green although I am not sure whether Trachycarpus will respond to feeding as I have never tried it, someone else here may be able to advise you.

 

Hi is it okay to plant this out nowit is in a pot outside in the garden,if so what is he best way ,
eg what soil/compost to use and what food etc
Thanks
Amo

 

I literally stuck my first one in a wide hole; large enough to accomodate rootball, watered it and left it at that. Only 'feeding' it's ever had is due to the annual 'chucking' on and enriching of beds with home-made compost. Did water it until established but that's all. Beautiful, structurally, and tough as old boots. Ratty and ragged leaf/frond edges add to it's character.
I have two now - one planted in garden as above, one in largish pot. One in garden has some fairly evil thorn-like projections along frond 'stems' - gloves and sleeves essential if going near it!

 

Tracey, could the one in the ground perhaps be a chamaerops of some kind, trachys tend not to have thorns along the leaf stalks.

 

Oh my, I joined here nearly a year ago, posted a few things and then.... stopped. How rude. Anyway, thanks Pete, you may well be right about 'Spike', it was a pressie in an unlabelled pot that simply outgrew it's pot. It's done very well again this year, the cold snaps, snow and ice don't make a dent in it.
The smaller one in pot however... composting along with other stuff.

 

Just a quick update my Trachycarpus Fortunei has survied the cold weather so far all leave still intact and green

 

Excellent news!

 

It's not for me to point people away from this excellent forum, but the Palm Centre in Kew will offer advice on any palms and cycads.

I have no connection with them but they've advised me well over the years, always with a smile (or smley!)

Martin