All you need to know about the Trachycarpus palm

Trachycarpus Palm or excelsa Palm is one of the nine species of the Arecaceae family. The species originated in China and is also known as the Chusan or Windmill Palm.

What is the Trachycarpus palm?

It is a plant with large, dark green leaves. When it grows, small flowers appear at the top and hang down in a large cluster up to 50 centimetres long. The fruit is very dark blue and round in shape. It is particularly tolerant to extreme temperatures. In fact, it is does equally well in cold, snowy conditions and in the heat (up to 45 degrees).

How tall does the Trachycarpus palm grow?

It can grow up to 20 metres high. Furthermore:

• Its leaves can be up to a metre long.
• The trunk can grow up to 20 centimetres in diameter.

How long does the Trachycarpus palm take to grow?

It matures after between five and ten years but is fully grown after 60 or 70 years.

How often should the Trachycarpus palm be watered?

These are the ideal watering conditions:

• In summer, twice or three times a week. During the rest of the year, once a week.
• It requires an average level of constant moisture.
• The soil needs to transpire to prevent it from becoming waterlogged.

How long does the Trachycarpus palm live?

It lives for an average of 100 years. However, there are factors to consider:

• It is healthier in cold climates, although this is not the general rule for palms.
• Although it can withstand extreme heat, it needs adequate, constant watering to live throughout its cycle.

When should the Trachycarpus palm be pruned?

Take these guidelines into consideration:

• This species of palm tree does not need pruning.
• The only maintenance it needs is the removal of the dry leaves.
• Cut off or prune the leaves when they are dry to leave the trunk clear.

One of the advantages of the Trachycarpus palm is that it does not tend to be infested by insects. However, there is one exception: the red palm weevil. That is why it is recommended you use treatments to prevent the red palm weevil.

The Trachycarpus palm can be seen growing in countless public and private gardens. Endotherapy is the most effective treatment to eliminate the red palm weevil. It consists of injecting a very small dose of an insecticide in the trunk to eliminate the insect. Preventive actions on palm trees without symptoms consist of eight or ten injections a year, administered every 30 days. If the tree is infected, the curative treatment is applied every two weeks for a total of two months.