Miniature Chusan Palm Trachycarpus wagnerianus

Seedlings started 4 years ago!

A wonderful palm for outdoor pot cultivation that can be moved into the garage in November or December.

Trachycarpus wagnerianus, the miniature Chusan Palm also known as a Waggie Palm Whatever its name, it's very pretty and very cold-resistant.

From an early age, it's easy to distinguish Trachycarpus wagnerianus from the classic Trachycarpus Fortunei. It forms very compact, small-sized palms. This is a real advantage, as the plant can remain in a fairly small pot and grow, without repotting, for years. It's a real gem for microgardens and balconies! After a few years, however, Trachycarpus wagnerianus eventually grows to 4 or 5 m in the open ground in milder conditions, as in France. It remains easy to manage for many, many years, as its growth in pots is relatively moderate. It grows fastest in the open ground. Here, it grows as fast as a non-dwarf Trachycarpus, by 10 to 20 cm a year. It retains a dense, more closed crown.

Cold tolerance of Trachycarpus wagnerianus

As far as the thermometer is concerned, Trachycarpus wagnerianus is one of the most cold-hardy palms. In Germany, as in some northern European countries, it's the favorite palm! It can withstand temperatures as low as -18°C! The needle palm, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, which tops the podium, is jealous. Like Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Trachycarpus wagnerianus can easily withstand winter humidity, which is not the case for all cold-hardy palms.

Mature size 4 m and over, but after a very long time (over 30 years).

Sun or part-shade exposure. Its foliage is looser in the shade and less attractive.

Any soil. Rich and fresh is best.

Hates... going without watering for weeks on end. It can withstand it for quite a long time (three weeks or more if temperatures are cool), but it will inevitably grit its teeth.

The trick is to top it up with mature compost and surround the base of the stipe with stones or tiles, as you would for a clematis, to keep it cool.