Trachycarpus latisectus

Trachycarpus latisectus, the Windamere palm, is a tall windmill palm known only from the hills around Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the eastern Himalaya. It was first noticed in 1992 in the garden of the Windamere Hotel in Darjeeling and named in 1997.

Its large, almost circular, leathery fans are cut into unusually broad segments, up to 5 cm wide, giving the leaf a gently rippled edge. Old leaves eventually fall away to reveal a clean, pale grey trunk.

At a glance

• Native range: eastern Himalaya (Darjeeling and Kalimpong)
• Mature size: to about 12 m
• Light: full sun in mild climates; some shade in hot, dry summers
• Water: plentiful; dislikes drought
• Cold hardiness: about −4 °C for established plants; young plants more tender
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in mild gardens

Care

Plant in free-draining soil and water and feed generously. In hot, dry weather its leaves can bleach, so light shade helps. Seedlings prefer bright, filtered light.

Why Palmpedia: Grown in our greenhouse in Almeirim, Portugal, and supplied in 15 L to 35 L pots.