Trachycarpus

Trachycarpus fortunei is the best-known palm that lives in Scandinavia, mostly because of it's hardiness and relative small demands concerning summer heat. The palm has been cultivated with great luck several places in Scandinavia, like Flor og Fjære in Rogaland (Norway).

The palm belongs to the group of palms that grow well with cool summers, but need mild winters. It is therefore worth planting along the western coast of Norway, the marine areas of Southwestern-Sweden and in Denmark.

Older and more established individuals of Trachycarpus fortunei can manage temperatures down to -13°C, but then with some damage on the leafs. If the temperature goes down to -17°C, the leafs will suffer badly. But the situation's final outcome depends on numerous factors like the length of the cold period, humidity, and wind.

The hardiness of Trachycarpus will not reach maximum in Scandinavia because of the often cool summers. Like most other palm species they need long and warm summers to build up optimal hardiness. A Trachycarpus fortunei can get several new leafs in the favourable areas of Scandinavia every year, so the speed of growth can be characterized as very good. Trachycarpus fortunei can reach the height of 9-10 metres.

In windy areas Trachycarpus wagnerianus would perform better than T. fortunei. T. wagnerianus is as hardy as T. fortunei, but is more wind-resistant. They are not totally like to look at, since T. wagnerianus has smaller leafs and does not grow so tall. Trachycarpus takil is reckoned to be even hardier than T. fortunei and T. wagnerianus.

If you are uncertain whether T. fortunei can grow on a certain place, then you should find out if there are any mature individuals of Araucaria araucana in the area. If there are large and healthy trees, T. fortunei should have no problems managing the winter without protection. The conclusion deals with the temperature conditions and not wind, since Araucaria araucana has no problems with windy conditions.

The Trachycarpus-palms comes originally from Asia. In China and Nepal they are to be found as high as 2300-2400 metres above ocean level. In these heights it can snow and freeze a lot during the winter. It was a man called Robert Fortune that brought Trachycarpus fortunei to Europe in 1842. Robert Fortune found T. fortunei on the island Chou San which lies off the eastern coast of China, therefore the name Chusan Palm. T. fortunei goes also by the name Chamaerops excelsa.

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More pictures, Costa Daurada summer 2005

T. fortunei	T. fortunei	T. fortunei	T. fortunei