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Trachycarpus wagnerianus, Full sun or shade?

14 years ago

Does any one have experience growing Trachycarpus wagnerianus? The info on the internet ranges from full sun to shady. Which one does waggie prefer?

Thanks.

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Comments (5)

jimhardy
14 years ago
I think they would do best in part shade the farther south you go but they are probly the toughest Trachy and would do well in full sun too,the only exception is when they are still sending out strap leaves or first fans when they prefer a little protection from sun.
JohnnieB
14 years ago
I think they'll do best if they get direct sun for at least part of the day. I'm in zone 7 and my waggies have been growing in partial shade for several years without too many problems, although they are still quite small and not yet trunking.

My waggies seemed to grow a bit faster and definitely put out a lot of new growth last year after I cut down a small tree that was shading them. I also fertilized them a bit more heavily last year, which may have encouraged them to push out new growth. BUT... they took a major hit this past winter, partially defoliated and spear pulled on all of them for the first time ever, and are slowly recovering. It wasn't the coldest winter they've experienced so I'm still scratching my head over it. I'm definitely fertilizing them less this year.
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As some here know I have had 2 large windmills in the ground going on 5 years, with a smaller one added 2 years ago. As stated well by jimhardy, tropicalzone7 et al, there are huge variations of climate within zones. Oklahoma City is technically the same zone as NYC and although we got 14 inches of snow in one storm last year and had sustained single digits, the two areas are vastly different in climate. I think we should agree that a hardy palm or any plant for that matter should be rated for a zone by its ability to thrive in that zone continuously without protection of any kind. The first 2 years my Trachys went unprotected and suffered bad damage from the wind and freezing rain. My Butia lived under a tarp with a 100 watt flood light happily for 2 years but died with the same protection after 3 days of temps below 12 degrees. I am confident all my hardy palms would not thrive without protection. I even lost a big Bismarkia in a pot from the heat last summer! Here is a link that might be useful: okcpalms
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xerophyte NYC
14 years ago
As long as its not too hot, full sun is ideal.

x
jimhardy
14 years ago
Johnnie,I wonder if fertilizer may have stayed in the ground until late in the season causing growth to be more tender,therefore not hardening off in time for winter.Faster growth being more tender.
winsorw
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all for the answers. I know where I should put it now.

Jimhardy, that's an interesting question. I don't know what fertilizer Johnnie used but I use a slow release type (in a package, buried in the ground and is supposed to last for a few years-if that's true!) for my T. fortunei. Although I have not seen that problem with my palm trees but it's something I have to keep in mind. Thanks.

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