Plants
Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei · Arecaceae
The windmill palm is the hardiest palm you can plant out permanently in our region — and for exactly that reason the most searched-for. Established specimens shrug off most winters in Düsseldorf's mild city climate. We will tell you honestly what it can and cannot do: winter-hardy does not mean maintenance-free, and the first years are decisive.
- Light
- Full sun to light partial shade; the more sun, the more compact the crown.
- Watering
- Generous in summer, only moderate in winter — avoid waterlogging at all costs.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Trachycarpus fortunei
The windmill palm owes its German name ‚Hanfpalme‘ to the hemp-like fibres wrapping its trunk like a coarse fur — a natural insulating layer that protects it from cold in its Chinese mountain home. The large fan fronds reach a good metre across and give even a young plant an astonishingly exotic presence.
The whole truth about winter hardiness: established, planted-out windmill palms briefly tolerate around −12 to −17 °C; young plants considerably less. The critical factor is less the air temperature than moisture in the palm heart and permanently frozen ground. In the Rhineland with its mild winters, planting out is quite feasible from about 40 cm of trunk height — in colder regions, container culture remains the safe choice.
When planting out, the location counts double: sunny, warm and sheltered from wind, ideally in front of a south-facing wall that radiates warmth at night. The soil must be free-draining — in heavy loam, a drainage layer of gravel helps, because wet feet in winter are the most common cause of death, not the frost itself.
In a container, the windmill palm thrives for years on a terrace or balcony and moves to a bright, cool spot between 0 and 10 °C for winter — an unheated stairwell or a bright garage is perfectly sufficient. At around 15 to 30 cm of growth per year it is no sprinter, but it will accompany you for decades.
Is Windmill Palm toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
The windmill palm is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children — one of the safest exotics for a family garden. At most, the stiff frond tips can prick.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Place or plant in a sunny, warm, wind-sheltered spot — wind tatters the fronds and costs winter hardiness.
- 02Free-draining substrate is mandatory: winter waterlogging is more dangerous than frost; in beds, add a gravel drainage layer.
- 03Water generously in summer and feed monthly — the palm is thirsty while growing.
- 04Only cut fully brown fronds close to the trunk; green fronds stay, they feed the palm.
- 05Winter protection when planted out: tie the fronds up loosely, wrap the trunk in fleece, mulch the root zone — overwinter containers bright and cool at 0–10 °C.
Frequently asked
- How winter-hardy is the windmill palm really?
- Established, planted-out specimens briefly tolerate around −12 to −17 °C — in Düsseldorf's mild city climate that covers most winters. Young palms and container plants are considerably more sensitive. Winter wet in the palm heart is more dangerous than frost: free-draining soil and rain protection in extreme spells achieve more than any heating.
- Can I plant out a windmill palm in the Rhineland?
- Yes — the Lower Rhine is one of Germany's mildest regions. Choose a palm with at least 40 cm of trunk, plant it in late spring in a sunny, sheltered spot with drainage, and protect it with fleece and mulch for the first three to four winters. After that it only needs help in extreme winters.
- How fast does a windmill palm grow?
- Leisurely: expect 15 to 30 cm of trunk growth per year with good care. In return it is long-lived and grows into a specimen that defines any garden. For instant effect, start with a larger plant — we source various sizes via the auction.
- Do I have to cut off brown fronds?
- Only fully dried fronds are cut close to the trunk — that is purely cosmetic. Leave half-green fronds on, as the palm reclaims nutrients from them. Important: never cut the tip — the windmill palm has a single growing point, and if it is lost, the palm dies.