Trachycarpus martianus
Himalayan Windmill. Symmetrical fans top a neatly clothed thin trunk. Flowerstalks ripen to a showy carrot-orange color.

Seen in Palms for Tight Spaces →


| 30–50ft | |
| 3–6ft | |
| Cool Summers | |
| Moderate | |
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. | |
| 20°F | |
| Full Shade – Full Sun | |
| Outdoor | |
| Himalayas | |
| No | |
| 9, 14–24 | |
Growing Notes
T. martianus is slower growing than other trachycarpus; we have a friend who planted one side by side with a Trachycarpus latisectus and after eight years the latisectus has an eight foot trunk and the martianus trunk is only six feet tall.
Unlike most trachycarpus this one spontaneously sheds its old leaves once mature, leaving a clean smooth trunk.
Special Interest
The clean and deeply divided, mesmerizingly symmetrical leaves of T. martianus make it stand out from other similar trachycarpus.
Stories featuring this plant
Garden storyPalms for Tight SpacesThere are many challenges when planting a garden, including considering damage to retaining walls, sidewalks, foundations, and underground utilities. Often the easiest way to overcome these tricky spots is planting small plants that won’t have a large impact on nearby infrastructure. But what if you need a larger, more substantial element?
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 Los Angeles
| 3 gallon | 3 available | $129 |
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.
© 2020–2026 Grubb and Nadler. All rights reserved.
