🌴 10+ Years of Trachycarpus Palms: Annual Garden Report 2025

By Yorkshire Kris – Exotic Gardening

Every autumn, I take time to check in on one of my favorite long-term garden experiments — my row of Trachycarpus palm trees, all planted more than ten years ago along the south-facing fence line of my garden. This lineup includes nearly every Trachycarpus species you can think of, from wagnerianus and fortunei to the rarer oreophilus and geminisectus.

This year’s report brings both successes and a bit of sadness, as one of the species finally succumbed after a decade in the ground. Let’s walk through how each palm has fared after another year of unpredictable UK weather — including that brutal -7°C winter we had.

🌿 Trachycarpus wagnerianus (The “Waggy”)

Always a reliable performer, my wagnerianus had another excellent year. It’s one of the darkest green-leaved Trachycarpus species and even set berries this season — likely a cross with a nearby fortunei or princeps hybrid. The trunk now stands about 2 meters tall, plus another 50–60 cm of lush fronds above. Despite the lower autumn sun struggling to reach the garden floor, this palm continues to grow steadily and look fantastic.

🌿 Trachycarpus martianus

This palm had a tough winter, taking the full force of those -7°C cold spells without protection. The older leaves browned off, but thankfully, it has bounced back with several new green fronds this year. The trunk is now well-formed, though completely cloaked in ivy — a problem spreading across much of the garden! I’ll be cutting that back soon to give this palm some breathing space.

🌿 Trachycarpus takil

The takil remains slow-growing but healthy. It’s identifiable by its narrow, upright trunk and slightly bluish undersides to the leaves. Growth is steady rather than fast, especially when compared to the next palm in the lineup — a real standout.

🌴 Trachycarpus ‘Princeps Hybrid’

What a showstopper! This is the fastest-growing palm in the garden and has outpaced all others by far. The trunk now exceeds 2 meters, with massive leaves nearly a meter across. It flowered again this year and looks absolutely magnificent — thick trunk, vibrant leaves, and lots of presence. It’s now easily over 3.5 meters tall and continues to thrive.

🌿 Trachycarpus aff. manipur (Possibly ukhrulensis)

This one’s a bit of a mystery. Originally thought to be manipur, I’m not so sure anymore. It’s been pruned heavily (not by me!) but remains in great health. The drooping leaves and steady trunk growth show it’s still strong, though not as vigorous as the Princeps hybrid.

🌿 Trachycarpus nainital

A compact beauty. Its leaves are stiff and upright, with a more tapered trunk compared to the hybrids. It’s lush green with little to no tomentum (fibers), and although not a fast grower, it’s definitely a resilient and attractive plant.

🌿 Trachycarpus princeps (True Species)

This was the runt of the litter when planted, but it’s holding its own now. The undersides of the leaves have that classic whitish-blue hue, absolutely stunning in sunlight. The trunk is still short — only about 35–40 cm — but it’s healthy and stable. This one’s a long-term beauty worth the patience.

🌿 Trachycarpus geminisectus

The smallest and slowest-growing of the lineup. It’s in deep shade beneath the Princeps, producing just one or two leaves per year. Still, it’s completely hardy — even the -7°C winter didn’t faze it. The whitish undersides of its leaves are still visible, giving it a delicate charm.

🌿 Trachycarpus fortunei

The classic hardy palm. My fortunei is doing fine, though it’s not a big grower in this dry, shaded spot. The trunk is around 80 cm, but the plant remains healthy. Compared to the Princeps hybrid and Waggy, its growth is slow, likely due to drier soil under the hedge.

❌ Trachycarpus latisectus (Loss)

Sadly, this is the first major loss in the 10+ year experiment. Both latisectus palms in the garden spear-pulled and died after the 2024 cold snaps. Even one in a more sheltered location didn’t survive. After more than a decade, this beautiful species has finally succumbed — a real shame.

🌿 Trachycarpus nanus

A smaller, shadier one, still doing fine but clearly struggling against ivy and honeysuckle. Once I clear more light around it, I expect to see better growth in future years.

🌿 Trachycarpus nova

I have two nova palms — both thriving! The first, in a sunny rubble bed, has over 2 meters of trunk and very healthy green leaves. It’s becoming difficult to tell apart from a fortunei, though slightly quicker growing. The second nova, planted in shade among bamboos, is nearly as tall with longer petioles and gracefully arching leaves.

🌿 Trachycarpus oreophilus

This palm looks a bit tatty after last winter’s cold and wind, but it continues to grow quickly. The trunk now stands around 2.5 meters, with long, narrow fronds. It didn’t flower this year — after blooming for the first time last year (and revealing itself as a male). Sparse crown, long petioles, and a very distinctive look overall.

🌿 Trachycarpus ‘Kumaon’

This form of takil from the Kimaon region is a real gem — strong, glossy leaves with spiky petioles and no visible tomentum. It’s slower due to being moved a few times, but the shape and color are stunning — rich apple-green leaves with subtle gradients of tone.

🌿 Bonus: The Princeps Showcase

I couldn’t end this update without showing off a couple of my best Trachycarpus princeps specimens. These are not part of the original row but are some of the most beautiful palms in the garden. Their leaves have that iconic white-blue underside, around 60–70 cm across, and a lovely silvery edge. Absolutely gorgeous palms that thrive even in the UK climate.

🌞 Final Thoughts

Looking down the line of palms now — all south-facing and over a decade old — I’m amazed by how much they’ve matured. While we’ve sadly lost latisectus, the rest continue to impress, showing how diverse, resilient, and rewarding the Trachycarpus genus can be in temperate gardens.

If you’re growing Trachycarpus or thinking about starting your own hardy palm collection, feel free to leave your questions or observations in the comments below.

Until next time,— YorkshireKris Exotic Gardening