Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei
Learn about the windmill palm including when and why it was planted, how to identify it, and where to find it on campus.
Tree Facts
Family: Arecaceae
Type
Evergreen
Size
Large (greater than 50 feet)
Traits
- Palmate leaves that spread like a folding fan.
- A single trunk covered with natural fibers that look like burlap.
Native Range
- Central China, southern Japan, and northern India
Story of the Tree
There are two windmill palms growing at the northern edge of the historic Sunken Garden on West Capitol Campus. They help to create a tropical looking theme that is common in Victorian-style gardens.
Windmill palm is the sturdiest type of palm tree to grow in western Washington.
The tree was cultivated in China and Japan for thousands of years for its coarse but very strong leaf fibers, used for making rope, sacks, and other cloth equipment that requires great strength.
This palm is cultivated in gardens and parks located in warm, temperate, and subtropical climates. Palm enthusiasts, landscape designers, and gardeners value this tree for its ability to tolerate cool summers and cold winters.
