The exotic hemp palm brings tropical flair to the house and garden. Find out everything you need to know about buying, growing and caring for the hemp palm here.
Palm trees tell of holiday feelings under the tropical sun on the palm beach. And who wouldn't like to put themselves there, at least mentally, from time to time? A bit of vacation in everyday life - but a palm tree in your own garden? Yes, that is quite possible, just with the hemp palm. The fact that the Chinese hemp palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) is invasive in some areas of Switzerland shows that some species of this genus can survive Central European winters. The plant is so well adapted to the environmental conditions there that it can even push back and replace native trees and species.
So that the hemp palm can contribute to your oasis of well-being, it must of course first feel good itself. You can find out the most important thing about the hemp palm and its care in this article.
Hemp palm: origin and properties
The genus of hemp palms (Trachycarpus) is distributed in Asia from China to Thailand, Vietnam and India. It even occurs in the Himalayas, some species at least up to an altitude of 2400 meters, an altitude at which the Alps are hardly overgrown. Due to this demanding habitat, hemp palms are not only a pretty ornamental plant, but also well suited for the garden, because they are often hardy and can be overwintered in beds. It is not for nothing that they are considered the most popular palm trees in Germany.
There are many different types of hemp palms. The best known is certainly the Chinese hemp palm (Trachycarpus fortunei). This species is particularly hardy and grows up to 15 meters high. Dwarf hemp palms (Trachycarpus nanus), on the other hand, are not able to form a trunk and therefore remain much smaller. The silver hemp palms (Trachycarpus princeps 'Silver') are particularly distinguished by their silvery-white layer on the underside of the leaves. They are considered specialstable, but difficult to obtain. Other well-known species are the Kumaon hemp palm (Trachycarpus takil), which initially develops a sloping trunk that gradually becomes more upright, and the Wagner hemp palm (Trachycarpus wagnerianus ), which remains relatively small with a maximum height of five meters.
Buying hemp palms: You should pay attention to this
Purchasing a hemp palm is highly recommended for those who want a little exoticism in their garden. There are of course several options here. The easiest is probably to visit the nearest garden center. This may also be quite successful, at least if you want to acquire the most popular type of cannabis palm, the Chinese cannabis palm. However, if you want something special, like the most beautiful hemp palm Trachycarpus princeps, a dwarf hemp palm (Trachycarpus nanus) or one of the many other species, then you should You are considering an online purchase. Numerous growers and traders have specialized in palm trees and can offer a much larger range than a conventional garden centre.
When buying rather unusual types, pay attention to the winter hardiness. Not all hemp palm species tolerate such low temperatures as the hardy Trachycarpus fortunei. Even young hemp palms or hemp palms under one meter are not yet suitable for wintering in the garden.
Plant hemp palm
Hemp palms prefer well drained, slightly acidic substrate. Therefore, mix the soil with sand or gravel. Older specimens, on the other hand, can easily cope with normal garden soil. Before you plant a hemp palm tree or place it on the terrace with its tub, give it enough time to get used to the high levels of sunlight. Most likely she grew up in a greenhouse and needs to get used to the much higher dose outdoors to avoid sunburn.
Once your hemp palm has acclimated, you can plant it as follows:
- The dug hole should be a little deeper so that the entire root ball disappears into it. A few centimeters of air should remain at the top edge, which is then filled with garden soil
- Press the palm lightly so thatshe is stable
- Pour slowly with enough water. However, do not flood it, otherwise the palm tree could be washed away or the water only runs off above ground. It's better to gradually add enough water so that it can penetrate to the roots
- You should water the plant more frequently in the coming days and weeks, as its root system is not yet sufficiently developed
For potting, the principle is the same: use a pot that is deeper than it is wide, as hemp palms are deep-rooters.
The right location for the hemp palm tree
Hemp palms are sensitive to wind, which is why you should choose a wind-protected location. Protection by a house wall or wall can be useful here, especially since both give off additional heat, especially at night. Nevertheless, the brightness should not be affected too much by this protection. Although hemp palms can also thrive in partial shade, they grow much more slowly there than if they have sufficient sunlight available. If you want fast growth, a spot on the south side of your garden would be very suitable, for example.
Plant hemp palm in the bed
If you would like to plant a hemp palm directly in the garden, you should definitely do so in spring, because this way the palm has enough time over the summer to get used to the new location and thus prepare for the exhausting winter . This makes a significant difference to native fruit trees, which are less stressed by the cold of winter than by the drought of summer and should therefore be planted in autumn. However, you should only plant out older hemp palms. Depending on the species, these not only tolerate the winter with the appropriate measures without any problems, but they also do not need a special substrate. Normal garden soil is perfectly fine for them.
Plant hemp palm in pot
Younger specimens under 3 years old are better placed in a container as they may not survive the winter outside. As a substrate for the undemanding hemp palm, the sustainable and peat-free Plantura organic universal soil, mixed with some sour rock flour, is an excellent choice. A palm tree in a pot looks particularly good on the terrace. Note, however, that hemp palms, as already mentioned, have deep roots and the pot should therefore be deeper than it is wide. A transplant will be about every three to fiveYears due or when you can see the root at the bottom of the pot.
Care for the hemp palm tree
Hemp palms are not very demanding. Nevertheless, there are some things you should pay attention to when caring for hemp palms. This includes avoiding waterlogging. They only need to be fertilized about once a month. Everything about fertilizing hemp palms can be found here. Cutting back green leaves is a bit more complex, which should be done very carefully.
Hemp palm overwinter
Since hemp palms are hardy to a certain extent, depending on the species, they can overwinter outside in beds or tubs. In order for the palm tree to survive the winter unscathed, a few measures are still necessary. It is particularly important to protect the heart of the palm, i.e. the point where all the fronds converge. The roots should also be protected from cooler temperatures by covering the ground around the palm trunk. We have summarized for you what is important when overwintering hemp palms.