Also known as Windmill Palm · 96 gardener saves
Trachycarpus: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Trachycarpus, the genus most gardeners know as windmill palm. We track 11 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 11 most-saved Trachycarpus varieties
Of 11 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedTaylor Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei 'Taylor'
#2 most savedWindmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei
#3 most savedChusan Palm Charlotte
Trachycarpus fortunei 'Charlotte'
Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei 'Bulgaria'
Dwarf Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus nanus
Wagnerianus Windmill Palm Chinese Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei 'Wagnerianus'
Windamere Palm
Trachycarpus latisectus
Nepal Fan Palm
Trachycarpus martianus 'Nepal Form'
Windmill Palm Greensboro
Trachycarpus fortunei 'Greensboro'
Naga Hills Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei 'Naga Hills'
Mountain Fan Palm
Trachycarpus oreophilus
How to grow Trachycarpus
What the Trachycarpus varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 11 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Trachycarpus year
- PruneMarch and April100% of varieties
Remove only completely brown or dead fronds close to the trunk
- FertilizeApril and June100% of varieties
Apply slow-release palm fertilizer as new growth begins
- Winter PrepOctober and November100% of varieties
In colder Zone 7 areas, wrap trunk and tie up fronds for severe cold protection
- PlantMarch–May36% of varieties
Plant in spring after danger of hard frost has passed and soil warms
Do
- Mulch to conserve moisture
- Mulch to retain soil moisture
- Water regularly during dry periods 🌱
- Prune dead fronds in late winter
- Prune dead or damaged fronds
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering in winter ❌
- Do not expose to frost; protect or bring indoors in cold climates
- Do not expose to frost in winter
What goes wrong with Trachycarpus
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Spider mites | Fine webbing on leaves | Use insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Scale insects | Sticky residue and yellowing leaves | Apply horticultural oil |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing and speckled leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap |
| Scale Insects | Sticky residue and yellowing fronds | Use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap |
| Root rot | Yellowing fronds, soft roots | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
| Fungal leaf spot | Brown spots on fronds | Improve air circulation and remove affected leaves |
| Root Rot | Wilting and discolored roots | Improve soil drainage and reduce watering |
Making more Trachycarpus
Division
- Divide mature clumps in early spring
- Plant divisions immediately in prepared soil
- Water thoroughly after planting
Seed
- Tuck seeds in moist soil in early spring
- Maintain soil moisture for 8 weeks
- Keep in warm, bright location
Trachycarpus questions
How many types of Trachycarpus are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 11 distinct Trachycarpus varieties. The most popular — ranked by 96 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Trachycarpus grow in?
Across its varieties, Trachycarpus covers USDA Zones 5–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Trachycarpus bloom?
Most Trachycarpus varieties bloom in late spring, late spring to early summer, early spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Trachycarpus should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Trachycarpus shows up in
Design with Trachycarpus in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
