Trachycarpus wagnerianus
Supplied in various sizes- please enquire
 
Trachycarpus wagnerianus is a small to medium sized hardy palmate palm originating from cultivation in Japan. Much has been written about this fantastic palm’s history and it is generally considered now to be not a separate species but a cultivar derived from Trachycarpus fortunei.
Trachycarpus wagnerianus or Waggi, is easily distinguishable from T.fortunei by it’s small, stiff leaves, held on shorter petioles. T. wagnerianus is more tolerant of winds, which tend the shred T. fortunei, making this a better palm for costal areas.
With it’s exotic looks, great hardiness and compact form, T wagnerianus is the perfect palm for garden cultivation across Europe.

Cultivation in USDA zones 7b and above should be possible with minimal winter protection- Fleece the crown of the plant when temperatures drop below -8℃ for prolonged periods or heavy snow is expected. When planting T. wagnerianus, choose a site in sun or semi shade. The soil should not be waterlogged or bone dry- for best results choose a well drained position that receives plenty of water. Prepare the planting hole well, adding organic material and grit if drainage needs improving.  During hot dry periods all Trachycarpus benefit from a good drench every few days.
Flowering is possible on palms of 1.2 meters and above. The inflorescence emerge in late spring from within the crown and are bright buttery yellow. The inflorescence are branched and hang downwards. The flowers are very small, white to yellow and are followed by green kidney shaped fruits, that turn black as they ripen. Trachycarpus are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers appear on separate trees, so seed is only seen when several palms are flowering in close proximity.
Pot culture is only possible with small juvenile plants because of the size and weight of these palms. Potting mix should be very well drained, we use the following mix, 40% quality stock compost, 40% landscaping loam , 20% alpine grit or Hortag (with a good layer at the bottom of the pot) to this we add a slow release fertilizer and volcanic rock dust for mineralization. Pot grown plants must not be allowed to dry out completely.