Livistona chinensis
Chinese fan palm
Glossy fan leaves for decades of understory interest. Short palm tree with gold-green crown with age.
 Height | 12–20 |
|---|---|
 Width | 10–15ft |
 Tolerates | Heat |
 Water needs | Moderate |
This palm should be watered deeply every week or two once it's established. It doesn't want to ever dry out completely. | |
 Hardy to | 20°F |
 Exposure | Full Shade – Full Sun |
 Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
 Origin | Japan |
 California native | No |
 Sunset zones | 9, 12–15, 17, 19–24 |
Growing Notes
Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients (especially including magnesium), especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves.
This solitary palm will grow only one trunk during its lifetime. If you have a pot with multiple trunks in it, that's because multiple separate palm trees were germinated in the pot. The good news is that you won't need to thin out suckers over time to maintain the number of trunks you started out with.
Fan palms have leaflets spreading from the tip of the rachis, giving the crown of the palm a rounded full look. They tend to rustle in the breeze, adding a soothing note to the garden.
Special Interest
The specific epithet and common name of this palm are a bit misleading, since this palm grows in habitat on Japan's Ryukyu Islands.
The above information reflects the observations of Grubb and Nadler and our extended plant community. We always consider input from fellow horticulturists and welcome feedback from those with additional information on the culture of this plant.
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