Cutflower Nomenclature

Scientific/Botanical Name:

Genus: Livistona

Specie: L. chinensis

Variety/Cultivar:

English Name:

 

Common Name:

Chinese fan palm or fountain palm

Botanical Family:

Name in Latin: Arecaceae

Name in English: Palm Tree Family

The Plant

Origin: native to Southern Japan, Taiwan and several islands in the South China Sea

Growth Habit: Big fan leaves divided about halfway to the middle, and with these divided sections drooping.

Flower: inflorescences hidden within the crown and are followed by oval or round seeds that turn dark blue to blue-gray when ripe.

Blooming Period: Summer

Leaf: fan shaped, deeply divided into about 75 segments that droop downward to give a gracefully fountain-like aspect inspiring its common name Chinese fountain palm

Usage:

ornamental plant, It is becoming common to see young Chinese fan palms used in masses as ground cover in both outdoor landscapes and interiorscapes - especially in shopping malls.

Care and Handling

Soil: not particular about soil

Amount of water: This palm forms a long tap root and can survive extended periods of drought.

Nutrition: Fertilize twice a year in spring and summer with a good quality slow release fertilizer that contains micro-nutrients.

Special handling: Likes direct sun

Special feature/remarks:

This plant can become a weed, or in some ecosystems an invasive species - such as in Florida wetlands and on some Caribbean Islands.