In a bright outdoor location, the Chinese hemp palm can often bloom in this country too. The yellow flowers stand out in the middle of green palm fronds. A beautiful sight that can be admired for a long time. Or the blossom goes to a “good cause”.
When does Trachycarpus fortunei bloom?
The Chinese hemp palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) blooms under optimal conditions from April to June. To do this, it requires a bright outdoor location, a trunk height of at least 1 meter and optimal care. The palm then forms yellow inflorescences made up of many individual flowers.
When to expect flowers
Hemp palms that are grown in pots indoors bloom extremely rarely. When planted outdoors, they regularly show their yellow flowers from April to June if the following conditions are met:
- The palm tree is doing well, it is receiving optimal care
- it is already “adult”, with a trunk height of at least 1 m
- the location is very bright
Individual flowers form into inflorescences
What looks like a flower from a distance is actually an inflorescence made up of many individual flowers. The panicle has multiple branches and hangs down on a thick stem. It can grow to a height of 70 to 90 cm. A palm tree can bear several inflorescences at the same time. After flowering, the panicles wilt and dry up, but remain on the palm tree until they are cut off by the palm owner.
Male and female palm trees
It may not be noticeable on the outside, but there are actually only female and male hemp palms. Both bloom, but not completely equally. While the flowers of a male palm tree are bright yellow, those of the female palm tree are more greenish. Female flowers also appear bushier overall.
Pollination and seed production
In order for flowers to be pollinated, you need a female and a male palm tree. You also have to take care of pollination yourself. To do this, first stroke a brush (€5.00 on Amazon) several times over a fully bloomed male flower and then over a female flower.
Fruits can only form on female flowers. It is unlikely that you can actually harvest purple-blue, fully ripe specimens in our latitudes. They would be edible.
Cutting off for more leaf growth
Flower and seed formation bind a lot of energy. If you want to get seeds so that you can propagate the hemp palm at home, you should still leave the flowers standing. Of course, if you find the palm tree with its inflorescences enchanting.
If you prefer growth and want more green leaves, you should cut the flowers early.
