I’ve never been a huge fan of the Chinese Fan Palm. I see them planted in groups a lot down here, and they never seem to have that grand, majestic look to them. 

I drive by this one Chinese Fan Palm at least three times a week, though. And it looks amazing. It’s fronds are at least 8-11 foot long. It’s grown fairly fast. And, it was grown under the canopy of a few large live oaks. 

 

Anyway, I wish I had a better picture of it. I tried to take a picture while in the car, stopped in the middle if the road. A car was coming, and this was the best I could get. I’m also posting a link to its location on google maps. This was about 4-6 years ago I believe. 

Dropped pin
Near Dock Junction, GA
https://goo.gl/maps/bfD4CgzhH9i8YqFk7

 

Edited March 8, 20206 yr by Jcalvin

Here’s a screenshot from google maps of the Palm a few years back: 

Probably the shade that does it justice. Mine look better with some afternoon shade. 

These palms are very majestic when grown well in shade. Much rather have one then any washingtonia 

Chinese fans grown in harsh, subtropical SFL look terrible: stunted and sickly green. I won't have one. But further north they can be glorious.

I personally really like them. Here’s a few local ones I took pics of the other day that I think look nice.

Edited March 9, 20206 yr by Estlander

2 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Chinese fans grown in harsh, subtropical SFL look terrible: stunted and sickly green. I won't have one. But further north they can be glorious.

They look great at Fairchild.  Maybe it's the soil? 

59 minutes ago, Xenon said:

They look great at Fairchild.  Maybe it's the soil? 

Maybe. My soil is alkaline, calcareous dreck. And I don't think this species handles the harsh FL sun well. Species decora, berteroana, australis, saribus & mariae do great. Drudei, nitida, muelleri & fulva are very slow growing but hang in there. The chinese fans I see around here aren't cared for and look awful. And they are common as dirt in stores, so I have not motive to plant one.

2 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

And I don't think this species handles the harsh FL sun well.

Being native to Okinawa(26N) and Taiwan(23N) and being grown all over the tropics now, they should take SFL sun just fine. Literature says they like full sun when out of the juvenile stage. 
I like to Google streetview travel in exotic places and have come across them in some very tropical places. 
Maybe they appreciate all year around water. I understand your area stays very dry in the winter!
 

We do have a 7-8 month dry season, which doesn't bother my other established Livistonas. We have a sprinkler system for the yard area close to the house but not on our Garden Lot. I'm sure the chinese fans I see around town get zilch care. And seeing they are "usual suspects" at the local BBs and common as dirt, I've never felt a need to plant one.

23 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I'm sure the chinese fans I see around town get zilch care. And seeing they are "usual suspects" at the local BBs and common as dirt, I've never felt a need to plant one.

They maybe be common at BBs, but if there are no nice looking ones in your area in general, then to have a well cared for specimen in your garden would be pretty rare sight and thus awesome   

5 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Maybe. My soil is alkaline, calcareous dreck.

They may like our East coast soil better.

The ones in the pic below are facing directly south here, no shade. Shorter petioles and so the crown's more compact. These are in an office park so I doubt they get any special fertilizer but they would get the lawn fertilizer.  I'm sure there's irrigation.

L. Chinensis actually look pretty good in Cape Coral. But with the number of exciting palm options available to you guys down there, I understand if you wanna skip this Sabal lookalike, lol. 

On 3/9/2020 at 10:17 AM, PalmatierMeg said:

Chinese fans grown in harsh, subtropical SFL look terrible: stunted and sickly green. I won't have one. But further north they can be glorious.

I’ve seen them planted in groups in Florida, and they look the same as the ones grown here. Their growth almost looks stunted. Florida and South Georgia are pretty similar when it comes to heat and humidity. 

 

However, when they’re grown in shade, the don’t look as bad. Have these two growing under a live oak canopy. One of them has fronds about 8’ long. 

 

 

Edited March 10, 20206 yr by Jcalvin

Mines in the background of this pic. I love these under live oak canopy way more than out in the open. 

This is same palm a few years back. Notice how they stretch out in shade and hold a deep green color.