Livistona chinensis - Chinese Fan Palm

Livistona chinensis, also known as the Chinese Fan Palm, is one of the most elegant and hardy of this genus, which includes about thirty species native to the warm and humid regions of Australia and Asia. Highly appreciated as an indoor plant or in coastal gardens, it is sought after for its magnificent, fountain-like habit, its lush foliar crown, and the beauty of its large, round, spring-green, trailing palm leaves, reminiscent of large fans. It is a relatively easy plant to grow in a pot as long as it has light and a rich and moist growing medium. It will remain small and will not produce a trunk.

Livistona chinensis, sometimes called the Chinese Fan Palm or Fountain Palm, is native to southern Japan, Taiwan, and southern China. This species requires warmth and water to grow well, and young plants must be protected from frost. Once mature, it can tolerate brief periods of temperatures as low as -8°C (17.6 °F). It is not demanding in terms of soil and appreciates regular watering but can also tolerate moderate drought. Like all palms, it belongs to the Arecaceae family. In its natural habitat, the plant reaches an average height of 15m (49 ft 2 in) with a spread of 7m (23 ft). In climates mild enough to accommodate it in the ground, it will adapt but will remain smaller, reaching a height of about 10m (32 ft 10 in). If grown in a container, it will form a clump of leaves no taller than 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) with a spread of 90cm (35.4 in).

The Chinese Fan Palm has a single, smooth and swollen trunk at the base, with a green-brown colour. At the top of the trunk, a crown composed of large, almost circular, palmate leaves develops, measuring 80cm (31.5 in) to 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) in length, divided into thin and pointed segments, joined at the base. The end of each segment gracefully drapes downwards. The leaves are bright green, glossy on the upper surface and slightly paler underneath. Each leaf is borne on a long, fleshy petiole, sometimes with dark and curved spines. The flowering occurs in summer, in the form of panicles of branched, creamy yellowish flowers. The fruits are generally ovoid, 2 to 3cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) long, and turn bluish when ripe, resembling olives.

The Chinese Fan Palm can be planted in the ground in gardens along the coast, sheltered from the wind, and even inland in the most sheltered areas. It deserves a prominent place, either isolated on a lawn or in front of a large shrubbery that will protect it from strong winds and intense sunlight. When planted in a large pot or container, it forms a superb green plant that will adorn the terrace or balcony during the summer, and then the conservatory or heated greenhouse in winter. It can sometimes be challenging to associate it with other plants due to its strong personality: reserve a corner by the pool and, for example, combine it with Fargesia bamboos, Phormium, Cordylines, and Hakonechloa macra Aureola, an easy-to-grow ground cover with beautiful orange foliage in autumn.