Trachycarpus latisectus

Darjeeling palm
Shiny green fans top a thin trunk clothed in fibrous leafbases. More lush and tropical than other trachycarpus. Native to the wet Sikkim foothills of the Himalayas.
Trachycarpus latisectusTrachycarpus latisectus
synonyms Trachycarpus sikkimensis
height 25–40ft
width 6–10ft
tolerates Cool Summers, Fog, Pots
water
needs		 Moderate
water
info		 This palm should be watered deeply every week or two once it’s established. It doesn’t want to ever dry out completely.

We have heard of this palm thriving when planted in an area of standing groundwater (to the point where it filled the holes over night at the time of planting). This was in San Francisco. In this particular instance they watered the palm well for one year and haven’t watered it since and it looks flawless.
hardy
to		 23F
exposure Full Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Heavy Soil, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Palm Fertilizer
origin Sikkim, India
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 14–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

The Darjeeling palm is faster growing than other trachycarpus and we have a friend who planted one side by side with a Trachycarpus martianus and after eight years the Darjeeling palm has an eight foot trunk and the martianus trunk is only six feet tall.
T. latisectus will sometimes have a slight lean to it if there is dominant light from one side.
If planted at an angle this palm will cuve up toward the light, creating a handsomely arched trunk.
Unlike most trachycarpus this one spontaneously sheds its old leaves once mature, leaving a clean smooth trunk. Even before the leaf bases shed their fibre has a cleaner less scruffy appearance.

Special Interest

The tapered growth point and wider leaf segments (creating a more lush tropical looking fan) distinguish this species. In fact the species name ‘latisectus’ means ‘with wide segments’. The leaves of this palm are also a lighter, brighter, shade of green.

This palm is endangered in its native habitat, with only around fifty individuals remaining.