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|Max wd metric=ft
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=flowers
|features=flowers, foliage
|flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
It grows to 15 m tall on a single stem up to 20-35 cm diameter. The trunk is very rough with the persistent leaf bases clasping the stem as layers of coarse fibrous material. It is a [[fan palm]] (Arecaceae subfamily Coryphoideae, tribe Livistoneae, subtribe Rhapidinae), with the [[leaf|leaves]] with the long petiole bare except for two rows of small spines, terminating in a rounded fan of numerous leaflets; each leaf is 140-190 cm long, with the petiole 60-100 cm long, and the leaflets up to 90 cm long. It is a somewhat variable plant, especially as regards its general appearance and some specimens are to be seen with leaf segments having straight and others having drooping tips.
It grows to 15 m tall on a single stem up to 20-35 cm diameter. The trunk is very rough with the persistent leaf bases clasping the stem as layers of coarse fibrous material. It is a [[fan palm]] (Arecaceae subfamily Coryphoideae, tribe Livistoneae, subtribe Rhapidinae), with the [[leaf|leaves]] with the long petiole bare except for two rows of small spines, terminating in a rounded fan of numerous leaflets; each leaf is 140-190 cm long, with the petiole 60-100 cm long, and the leaflets up to 90 cm long. It is a somewhat variable plant, especially as regards its general appearance and some specimens are to be seen with leaf segments having straight and others having drooping tips.
The [[flower]]s are yellow (male) and greenish (female), about 2-4 mm across, borne in large branched panicles up to 1 m long in spring; it is [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female flowers produced on separate trees. The [[fruit]] is a yellow to blue-black, reniform (kidney-shaped) [[drupe]] 10–12 mm long, ripening in mid autumn.<ref name=focd/><ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref>
The [[flower]]s are yellow (male) and greenish (female), about 2-4 mm across, borne in large branched panicles up to 1 m long in spring; it is [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female flowers produced on separate trees. The [[fruit]] is a yellow to blue-black, reniform (kidney-shaped) [[drupe]] 10–12 mm long, ripening in mid autumn.<ref name=focd/><ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref>
Occasionally it occurs that a male plant of ''T. fortunei'' besides the usual spadices produces also a few other spadices which carry really hermaphroditic flowers. The hermaphroditic and completely fertile flowers are almost exactly like the male flowers, but are a little larger and with the carpels well evolute, the latter about as long as the filaments, furnished with a ring of silvery hairs all round.
Occasionally it occurs that a male plant of ''T. fortunei'' besides the usual spadices produces also a few other spadices which carry really hermaphroditic flowers. The hermaphroditic and completely fertile flowers are almost exactly like the male flowers, but are a little larger and with the carpels well evolute, the latter about as long as the filaments, furnished with a ring of silvery hairs all round.
Although not the northernmost naturally occurring palm in the world (''[[Chamaerops|Chamaerops humilis]]'' grows further north in the [[Mediterranean region]], and ''[[Needle Palm|Rhapidophyllum]]'' and some ''[[Sabal]]'' species further north on the Atlantic coast of [[North America]]), it is one of the [[hardy palms|hardiest]], as it grows at much higher altitudes, up to 2,400 m in the mountains of southern China. This brings it into a [[climate]] not only with cold winters, but also cool, moist summers; while ''Rhapidophyllum'' may possibly tolerate slightly lower temperatures in winter, it needs much greater summer heat to grow successfully.<ref name=rhs/>
Although not the northernmost naturally occurring palm in the world (''[[Chamaerops|Chamaerops humilis]]'' grows further north in the [[Mediterranean region]], and ''[[Needle Palm|Rhapidophyllum]]'' and some ''[[Sabal]]'' species further north on the Atlantic coast of [[North America]]), it is one of the [[hardy palms|hardiest]], as it grows at much higher altitudes, up to 2,400 m in the mountains of southern China. This brings it into a [[climate]] not only with cold winters, but also cool, moist summers; while ''Rhapidophyllum'' may possibly tolerate slightly lower temperatures in winter, it needs much greater summer heat to grow successfully.<ref name=rhs/>
Its tolerance of cool summers makes it highly valued by palm enthusiasts as the palm that can be cultivated the furthest north in the world, being grown successfully in such cool and damp but relatively winter-mild locales as [[Scotland]] and the panhandle of [[Alaska]]. It does not however grow well in hot climates.
Its tolerance of cool summers makes it highly valued by palm enthusiasts as the palm that can be cultivated the furthest north in the world, being grown successfully in such cool and damp but relatively winter-mild locales as [[Scotland]] and the panhandle of [[Alaska]]. It does not however grow well in hot climates.
The greatest reported cold tolerance is −27.5 °C (−17.5 °F), survived by four specimens planted in [[Plovdiv]], [[Bulgaria]] during a severe cold spell on 6 January 1993 and placing it hardy to [[hardiness zone|USDA Zone 7]];<ref>Polar Palms: [http://www.polarpalm.net/ The Polar Palms of Bulgaria]</ref> more commonly lower tolerance limits of −15 °C to −20 °C (5 °F to −4 ºF) are cited for mature plants.<ref>Dossiers-Jardin: [http://www.jardin.ch/dossiers/palmiers-resistants.html Les palmiers résistants au froid]</ref><ref name=bean4>Bean, W. J. (1980). ''Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles'' 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.</ref> Young plants are less hardy, and can be damaged by only −8 °C (17.6 °F).<ref name=pfaf>Plants for a Future: [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Trachycarpus+fortunei ''Trachycarpus fortunei'']</ref>
The greatest reported cold tolerance is −27.5 °C (−17.5 °F), survived by four specimens planted in [[Plovdiv]], [[Bulgaria]] during a severe cold spell on 6 January 1993 and placing it hardy to [[hardiness zone|USDA Zone 7]];<ref>Polar Palms: [http://www.polarpalm.net/ The Polar Palms of Bulgaria]</ref> more commonly lower tolerance limits of −15 °C to −20 °C (5 °F to −4 ºF) are cited for mature plants.<ref>Dossiers-Jardin: [http://www.jardin.ch/dossiers/palmiers-resistants.html Les palmiers résistants au froid]</ref><ref name=bean4>Bean, W. J. (1980). ''Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles'' 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.</ref> Young plants are less hardy, and can be damaged by only −8 °C (17.6 °F).<ref name=pfaf>Plants for a Future: [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Trachycarpus+fortunei ''Trachycarpus fortunei'']</ref>
The Windmill Palm is very tolerant of wind and salt; it doesn't necessarily need protection from winds or shoreline conditions such as salt. But, protecting any plants in any harsh weather condition is important, and the windmill palm tree is no exception.<ref>RealPalmTrees: [http://www.realpalmtrees.com/ Windmill Palm]</ref>
The Windmill Palm is very tolerant of wind and salt; it doesn't necessarily need protection from winds or shoreline conditions such as salt. But, protecting any plants in any harsh weather condition is important, and the windmill palm tree is no exception.<ref>RealPalmTrees: [http://www.realpalmtrees.com/ Windmill Palm]</ref>
