Alien Trachycarpus Fortunei

[simona]

The Swiss Commission for Wild Plant Conservation has "Trachycarpus fortunei /Hemp Palm, Chinese Windmill Palm" on the

Watch List: [List of invasive alien plants of Switzerland which have the potential to cause damage. Their spread needs to be monitored and if necessary prevented. They already cause damage in neighbouring countries.]

Here: http://www.cps-skew.ch/english/black_list.htm

More in German, here: http://www.cps-skew.ch/deutsch/inva_trac_for_d.pdf

[paulgila]

what kind of "damage?"

[Neofolis]

It says in the black list and watch list description that plants on either list are invasive. The description they give for invasive includes the term spread rapidly. I wonder what plants Switzerland consider not to spread rapidly, Cocos nucifera maybe, it certainly wouldn't spread rapidly in Switzerland.

How many years would it take Trachycarpus fortunei to reach fruiting stage in the mildest areas of Switzerland?

[simona]

"(...)They already cause damage in neighbouring countries."

Could that mean that Trachys already cause damage in Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Lichtenstein?

[Exotic Life]

Is this because, it's going to be a native species in a couple years?

Here in Holland, i a lot of gardens there are Trachycarpus fortunei growing... it's just time we need before the seeds are taken by birds and spread it everywhere.

Robbin

[Neofolis]

If that is going to happen Robbin, I would have them on the "Cool List".

[DoomsDave]

The Swiss are pretty anal . . .

[Dave-Vero]

I had an easier ttime with the French version (all those Spanish lessons...). Looks as though trachies are thriving in the lake region near the Italian border and are able to shade out natives. Looks very much as though the climate must be similar to some moist montane areas within the pretty wide native range of Trachycarpus.

I suspect the same area might have problems with a lot of Himalayan or maybe even Burmese plants.

The Black and Watch lists are pretty short and as best I can tell, essentially everything is or could be a serious pest.

[Kris]

It says in the black list and watch list description that plants on either list are invasive. The description they give for invasive includes the term spread rapidly. I wonder what plants Switzerland consider not to spread rapidly, Cocos nucifera maybe, it certainly wouldn't spread rapidly in Switzerland.

[Kelern]

Well, in France we make jokes about the slowness of the swiss people, they must feel invaded

[Exotic Life]

If that is going to happen Robbin, I would have them on the "Cool List".

Well, maybe is that what i'm hoping for But it's possible i think, in China they remove the flowers from Trachycarpus because trachycarpus is growing everywhere because the seeds are spreading by the birds. I've seen birds making their home into Trachycarpus leafes, so maybe over a couple years Trachycarpus in the wild?

Robbin

[maesy]

Is this because, it's going to be a native species in a couple years?

Here in Holland, i a lot of gardens there are Trachycarpus fortunei growing... it's just time we need before the seeds are taken by birds and spread it everywhere.

Robbin

Yes, that's exactly what happens in ticino, the southern canton of switzerland.

It is a very touristic place, where trachycarpus fortunei has been growing for a long time.

Not only two or three decades, it's been established very well for more than a century!

Because of the lakes the clime is very mild for lat. 46°. Milder in winter than more southern places, and mediterranean plants grow surprisingly

What looks so beautiful for us has become a real problem for the nature.

Some native plants are slowly dying out, because forests and hedges are overgrown with exotic mostly evergreen plants.

First of all T.fortune.

Therefore it has also an effect of the wildlife of the place.

But everyone is welcome to go into the forest and dig them out, there you can find lots of young plants.

Marcel

[PalmGuyWC]

I have many Tracheycarpus growing in my garden, and every year they are loaded with seeds. There are no bird species in my area that will touch a Trach. seed. Even my voracious squirrels won't touch them, as they must have a very unplesant taste. I seriously doubt they would be widely spread around by animals in Switzerland.

I lived in Geneva for a month once and I didn't see many Trachs. growing there.

Dick

[DoomsDave]

How many years would it take Trachycarpus fortunei to reach fruiting stage in the mildest areas of Switzerland?

Good question!

And, I suspect, the answer is: not long, if my experience is any guide.

The part of Suisse mapped has a climate a lot like here, though probably a bit frostier, and, judging by the pictures, with more rainfall.

I have a bodacious Trachy that's about 12 feet (4 m) tall, planted out from a large 15 gallon about four years ago. That thing is faster than the Roystonea next to it, and will overtake it soon! It's also setting seeds. An educated estimate tells me that my Big Girl is about 8 years old from seed.

The birds here have so far shown no interest in the seeds, but that might change one day. Perhaps the Swiss Vogeln are a bit more epicurian and adventurous?

In any case, given the above, I'm sure Swiss forests with the right climate are filled with mature Trachies. Perhaps they're a delicacy? The Swiss in Suisse will find out soon . . . .