Fan palms are all types of palm trees whose fronds appear palmate with numerous, fan-like individual leaves. In our latitudes, the fan palm is usually grown as a pot plant, which has to be hibernated on the terrace in summer and frost-free in winter.
Which species are fan palms?
Representative fan palm species include Trachycarpus fortunei, Washingtonia filifera and Washingtonia robusta. They are characterized by hand-shaped fronds with numerous, fan-shaped individual leaves and are conditionally hardy.
Representative species of fan palm
- Trachycarpus fortunei
- Washingtonia filifera
- Washingtonia robusta
Washingtonia species come from the Mediterranean region, while the hemp palm Trachycarpus fortunei, which is a fan palm, is native to the high mountains of Asia. Some varieties have very sharp frond ends or even thorns, so a certain risk of injury cannot be ruled out.
Outdoors, fan palms can reach impressive heights of up to 20 or more meters. As a container plant, the fan palm can grow up to four meters high if cared for properly.
Care for fan palm species outdoors or at home
Fan palms are among the easy-care palm species. They need to be watered adequately and fertilized occasionally. Regular repotting is also advisable.
Fan palms can also be grown outdoors in a protected location. However, they are usually kept as houseplants or in pots.
Fan palms are conditionally hardy
Fan palms are conditionally hardy. They can tolerate temperatures down to minus eight degrees - but only for a shorter period of time.
If the fan palm is overwintered outdoors, the winter moisture is particularly difficult for it. Cover the ground with a blanket of mulch and tie the fronds at the top. This will protect the sensitive palm heart from rain and snow. To be on the safe side, you should also cover the palm tree with fleece (€7.00 on Amazon).
Fan palms that are overwintered indoors should be placed in a cool place. Ideal wintering temperatures are between 10 and 15 degrees. The location must be as bright as possible. The fan palm likes direct sunlight in the morning and afternoon.
Livistona is not a fan palm
Even though it is often classified as a fan palm, the Livistona is an umbrella palm. Their care is slightly more complex than that of fan palms.
Tip
Like almost all palm species, neither fan palms nor Livistona are poisonous. One problem, however, is the space required. You should only care for these palm trees if you can provide enough space in the room or on the terrace.