Pronunciation: liv-ih-STONE-uh chin-NEN-siss
Common Name: Chinese Fan Palm, Chinese Fountain Palm
Livistona chinensis is one of the hardiest, affordable and most commonly available of the Livistona genus. and a very adaptable palm for most climates of southern California, including indoors. If grown in bright light, Livistona chinensis makes a very compact palm with a dense crown of ornamentally drooping leaves. It becomes a much taller, lankier palm if grown in more shade. Very easy palm to grow from early on.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary
- Height: 30 feet
- Trunk: mostly clear but some retained leaf bases, particularly near the bottom; 1' thick
- Spread: 8'-12'
- Leaf Shape: moderately costapalmate and forming nearly a full circle; leaf blades split generally half way and leaflets have a characteristic 'Livistona' droop (hence the name 'Fountain Palm')
- Petiole: bright green; 3'-4' long, barely channeled and armed with hooked, very sharp teeth
- Foliage: bright green to yellowing in full, hot sun; Leaves tend to form fairly dense crowns; leaflets blowing in the slightest breeze
- Reproduction: monoecious with generally prolific seed production
- Inflorescence: yellow and very highly branched, about 3' long
- Fruit: shiny blue-green ovoid 2cmx 1cm
- Seed: pale yellow and ovoid about 1cm x 6mm
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 20F
- Drought Tolerance: fair though good in mature palms
- Dry Heat Tolerance: good
- Wind Tolerance: good, though only fair in young palms
- Salt Tolerance: moderate
- Growth Rate: slow to moderate with age
- Soil Preference: extremely adaptable to nearly any soil type
- Light Requirement: partial to full sun (partial best in inland climates)
- Human Hazards: sharp petiolar teeth
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: few in California
- Transplants?: fair to good
- Indoor?: very good but somewhat dangerous indoor palm
- Availability: common
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