Livistona chinensis

Livistona chinensis, the Chinese fan palm or fountain palm, is native to the warm coasts of southern Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Hainan and south-east China. Its large, light yellow-green fans are split about halfway into narrow segments whose tips hang down in a soft fringe, giving the crown its fountain-like look.

It has been grown as a pot and garden palm since the 19th century and tolerates several degrees of frost.

At a glance

• Native range: southern Japan, Taiwan, Hainan and south-east China
• Mature size: to 15 m in the wild; about 9 m typical in cultivation
• Growth rate: relatively slow, especially in forming a trunk
• Light: full sun to light shade; young plants look best with some shade
• Water: regular watering speeds growth; established palms survive long dry spells
• Cold hardiness: brief frosts to about −6.7 °C
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in mild gardens; a long-standing pot palm

Care

It is not fussy about soil and tolerates salt spray, wind and drought, and it transplants easily. Feed twice a year with a slow-release palm fertiliser with trace elements to avoid potassium deficiency. Cut away dead leaves, which cling for a year or more. Its crown spreads 3–3.7 m, so allow room.

Why Palmpedia: Greenhouse-grown by us in Almeirim, Portugal, and supplied in 15 L to 35 L pots.