Pronunciation: tray-key-CAR-puss wag-nair-ee-AHN-us
Common Name:
Trachycarpus wagnerianus is listed separately here, though most palm experts include this within Trachycarpus fortuneias a Japanese cultivar, despite its rather striking differences, at least in cultivation. This is a nearly equally hardy palm as T fortunei, but it slower growing and smaller all around. The most notable difference is the leaf size (about 1/2 to 1/3 the size) and stiffness (very little droop of these leaves). Also this palm seems to want to start out life growing at an angle so it is not unusual seeing smaller palms curve at the base. However, eventually these palms straighten themselves out. They have less trunk scurf but color and flowers are identical to those of Trachycarpus fortunei generally.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: single trunk with a head of about 20-30 fan leaves
- Height: 20'
- Trunk: solitary; covered with dark brown fibrous material and retained, unspilt leaf bases; if cleaned, trunks to have closely space rings that lose their distinction with age; about 6" diameter
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 4'-6'
- Leaf Description: 3' long (including petiole); stiff with minimal droop/sag; leaflets very stiff with minimal to no arch or droop at all; palmate leaves about 1' long and wide; semicircular; leaves divided from 1/2 to 2/3 their length; induplicate leaflets, often with splitting tips; dark green turning bright yellow at leaflet bases; almost plastic-like
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 2' long; thin and somewhat flattened; either smooth or armed with very tiny, closely spaced teeth; dark green
- Reproduction: dioecious
- Inflorescence: see Trachycarpus fortunei
- Fruit: 1"; black; spherical
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 10F
- Drought Tolerance: moderate to good
- Dry Heat Tolerance: good
- Cool Tolerance: very good
- Wind Tolerance: good
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: slow
- Soil Preference: very adaptable
- Light Requirement: full to partial sun
- Human Hazards: none known
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: sensitive to lethal yellowing
- Transplants?: fairly tolerant of being moved about, but more difficult once significantly trunking
- Indoor?: not a good choice for indoor use due to lack of sufficient lighting
- Availability: moderately common
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Huntington Gardens near Pasadena, California
Los Angeles arboretum, Santa Anita, California
San Fernando Valley, California
