Trachycarpus latisectus
Darjeeling palm
Shiny green fans top a thin trunk clothed in fibrous leafbases. More lush and tropical than other trachycarpus. Native to the wet Sikkim foothills of the Himalayas.
 Synonyms | Trachycarpus sikkimensis |
|---|---|
 Height | 25–40ft |
 Width | 6–10ft |
 Tolerates | Cool Summers, Fog, Pots |
 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. We have heard of this palm thriving when planted in an area of standing groundwater (to the point where it filled the holes over night at the time of planting). This was in San Francisco. In this particular instance they watered the palm well for one year and haven't watered it since and it looks flawless. | |
 Hardy to | 23°F |
 Exposure | Full Shade – Full Sun |
 Plant traits | Palm, Solitary, Tropical, Trunking |
 Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
 Drainage | In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Heavy Soil, Tolerates Sandy Soil |
 Fertilizing | Palm Fertilizer |
 Origin | Sikkim, India |
 California native | No |
 Sunset zones | 14–24 |
Growing Notes
The Darjeeling palm is faster growing than other trachycarpus and we have a friend who planted one side by side with a Trachycarpus martianus and after eight years the Darjeeling palm has an eight foot trunk and the martianus trunk is only six feet tall.
T. latisectus will sometimes have a slight lean to it if there is dominant light from one side.
If planted at an angle this palm will cuve up toward the light, creating a handsomely arched trunk.
Unlike most trachycarpus this one spontaneously sheds its old leaves once mature, leaving a clean smooth trunk. Even before the leaf bases shed their fibre has a cleaner less scruffy appearance.
Special Interest
The tapered growth point and wider leaf segments (creating a more lush tropical looking fan) distinguish this species. In fact the species name 'latisectus' means 'with wide segments'. The leaves of this palm are also a lighter, brighter, shade of green.
This palm is endangered in its native habitat, with only around fifty individuals remaining.
Stories featuring this plant
Garden storyThe Ultimate Guide to Growing Palm Trees in Coastal CaliforniaWe can grow many kinds of palms in our coastal California gardens — palm trees, shrubby palms, bamboo palms, little foliage palms — lucky us! Our guide to everything palm has all the info you need to make the best selections for your garden.
Garden storyUnderstanding Your Climate: Here's Why Coastal California is Paradise for Plant LoversWe all know San Francisco has lots of fabulous quirks, and the climate is one of the weirdest. For visitors and newcomers, our weather can be a puzzle, but for plant nerds (like all of us here at Flora Grubb Gardens), this particular puzzle is what makes San Francisco a gardening paradise.
In stock today in San Francisco
| 3 gallon | 2 available | $189 |
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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