Do not get palmed off with an inferior plant. Nor do you need a desert oasis as even in your conservatory or garden this Chusan Palm will spread umbrella like shredded leaves over a fair sized area.

Trachycarpus fortunei or the Chusan palm can grow and flower in the UK.  They are hardy down to -10° C and tolerate our cool summers. For this reason they are popular plants even growing  as far north as Scotland.

Growing Chusan Palm

• Chusan Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei is also called Chinese Windmill Palm or Chamaerops fortunei. You may find them for sale as Takil or Nanus varieties.
• These palms have been cultivated for centuries in China and true varieties vary considerably.
• The leaves are fan shaped and so strong they are used for making ropes, sacks, and other coarse cloth in Japan and China.
• Chusan Palm grow 6-10″ a year under optimum conditions.
• Chusan Palm grow to 35′ tall, flower yellow and the fruit is a red to blue-black.
• Individual trunks are slim and covered with old leaf stumps and dark-brown fibres. Cut off leaves to give a more attractive smooth-stemmed palm.
• AGM status has been awarded to Trachycarpus fortunei

I am looking for a photograph of the kidney shaped fruit .

Currently we will have to settle for this alternative photograph.