Please identify fan palm found in Italian garden center

[Buddha1979]

Hi there,

I recently visited Italy and found a beautiful fan palm in a garden center in Milan. It was kept in a greenhouse in partial shade.

Can you please identify it for me?

Livistona chinensis maybe? But having many in one pot and no signs of forming trunks is a bit unusual.

Many thanks,

Guenther, Austria

Edited January 23, 2022 by Buddha1979

[zero]

1 hour ago, Buddha1979 said:

Hi there,

I recently visited Italy and found a beautiful fan palm in a garden center in Milan. It was kept in a greenhouse in partial shade.

Can you please identify it for me?

Livistona chinensis maybe? But having many in one pot and no signs of forming trunks is a bit unusual.

Many thanks,

Guenther, Austria

Hi Guenther,

I think you got it right with Livistona chinensis.  I'm not sure about Europe but here in the States it is quite common to sell multiple L. chinensis in the same container as with the plant you show.  My other thought was Saribus rotundifolia which I believe is somewhat common in Europe but the thorns on the leaf petioles look more like Livistona to me at that size.  I'm not sure how cold it gets in Milan this time of year but the Livistona chinensis is much more cold hardy.

Jon

[oasis371]

Livistona chinensis (Chinese fan), a solitary palm but often planted as multiples. Saribus palm is a thorny devil!

[DoomsDave]

@Buddha1979 that’s a nice find! Did you buy it? If not, consider whether you can use that many palms. I’d separate them and repot each into its separate pot come spring. 

Bella Italia!

 

[Buddha1979]

Thank you folks! I did not buy it because it was rather expensive (250 Eur) and I did not know the species and therefore requirements. It is an indoor plant in northern Italy and Austria.

I guess I do not have enough light in my living room for a Livistona. Rhapis excelsa is doing fine though but AFAIK it has the least light requiremets of all fan palms.

Cheers

Guenther