It does not like to have wet feet.
Water
Newly planted windmill palm trees should bewatered every few days.
Established plants should be watered once or twice weekly.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
Temperature and Humidity
Windmill palm trees are cold-hardy, tropical plants.
In the genus Trachycarpus, there are 11 species, most are very rare, andT.
fortuneiis the most common.
pcturner71 / Getty Images
Propagating Windmill Palm Trees
Stem cutting or division is not a reliable method of propagating these trees.
The most reliable way is growing windmill palm trees by seed.
Stem cuttings are not a reliable method.
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Choose a container that contains ample drainage holes.
As it grows, transplant it to the next size container.
The ground insulates the roots while the container exposes the roots to colder temperatures.
IsabelleMorand / Getty Images
you’re able to cover the crown and base with a frost blanket or a layer of mulch.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Windmill palm is relatively free of problems, especially in cooler climates.
Further south, it sometimes experiences problems from scale insects and palm aphids.
The Spruce / Marisa Kikis
Diseases are rare, though leaf spots and yellowing disease sometimes occur.
If the soil is not well-drained, root rot may be a problem.
Candidatus, an unculturable bacterium, cause this deadly disease.
The Spruce / Marisa Kikis
A tree infected bycandidatusshould be immediately removed and destroyed to prevent disease spread.
Bloom Months
Windmill palm trees are in bloom in the summer months, from June to August.
What Do Windmill Palm Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The Spruce / Marisa Kikis
Male flowers are usually yellow and female flowers are closer to green.
After they’re pollinated, clusters of purple drupes (stone fruit) are formed in the summer.
The fleshy fruits appear kidney-shaped, covering a seed.
Common Problems With Windmill Palm Trees
Windmill palms are cold-hardy, salt-tolerant, and drought-resistant once established.
They are low-maintenance trees that are easy to care for with relatively few problems.
Check the soil to figure out which it is.
If the soil is crumbly, it needs more water.
If the soil is soggy, it’s overwet.
Water more or less frequently, depending on your soil evaluation.
To confirm a deficiency, test the soil.
A soil test can confirm the absence of essential nutrients.
Give the plant fertilizer to supplement the missing nutrients to bring the tree back to health.
Typically, they average between 10 to 20 feet tall.
Windmill palms can safely withstand 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
The leaves are also sometimes used in thatched roofs.
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
North Carolina State Extension.
Deadly disease reported in Chinese windmill palm trees.
Louisiana State University College of Agriculture.
