Hi all,

I discovered and joined this community today and I have a question regarding my Trachycarpus that I purchased years ago. I noticed that this palm, which was sold as “Fortunei”, has a sort of creeping trunk. I haven’t seen it before at any other Fortunei, does this happen occasionally? Or could it be that I bought another variety of Trachycarpus, for instance a Takil? Please see some photos of the palm below, also notice the photo from 2017 that I found (I had the idea that its growth went quite slow). For what it’s worth, I’m located in a 8a/8b zone.

Thanks in advance!

Stefan

Common enough. Looks very healthy.

It's not the least bit uncommon to see T. fortunei growing obliquely. Once the palm forms a trunk base, it will begin to grow vertically.

Thank you both! New information for me😉

I agree with the other responses you got here, but I just wanted to say welcome to the forum! You have a nice looking trachycarpus there.

I've seen this a lot too.  I imagine that the slow growth is partially due to the small pot.  By limiting the root size you limit the above-ground mass as well.  It looks really healthy for being a semi-bonsai.

1 hour ago, Ben OK said:

I agree with the other responses you got here, but I just wanted to say welcome to the forum! You have a nice looking trachycarpus there.

Thanks Ben

57 minutes ago, LeonardHolmes said:

I've seen this a lot too.  I imagine that the slow growth is partially due to the small pot.  By limiting the root size you limit the above-ground mass as well.  It looks really healthy for being a semi-bonsai.

Thank you for your answer, I suspected the small pot too for its slow growth. Nevertheless I got a few other trachys in pot that seem to grow a bit quicker, but these don’t have a trunk like this. I’ll consider planting it out in the garden.

On 3/20/2023 at 3:48 PM, Stefanus said:

Thank you for your answer, I suspected the small pot too for its slow growth. Nevertheless I got a few other trachys in pot that seem to grow a bit quicker, but these don’t have a trunk like this. I’ll consider planting it out in the garden.

I encourage you to do so! They love our climate. I've never seen it on T. fortunei to that extend but most people here apprently have so I guess they're right. Though the trunk and the leaves give me some takil vibes. 😂 I wouldn't completely exclude any other Trachy type but if you plant it out and it gets bigger it will also become more apperent.

I took the advice and planted it in the garden, lets see how it performs the coming years!

24 minutes ago, Stefanus said:

I took the advice and planted it in the garden, lets see how it performs the coming years!

Welcome Stefanus.  I don't exactely where you live but Trachycarpus will do fine in most places in the Netherlands. 

Perhaps you planted a bit close to the fence but that's hard to say from the photo. 

Edited April 8, 20233 yr by Marco67

34 minutes ago, Marco67 said:

Welcome Stefanus.  I don't exactely where you live but Trachycarpus will do fine in most places in the Netherlands. 

Perhaps you planted a bit close to the fence but that's hard to say from the photo. 

Hi Marco, yes we got quite some in the neighborhood. I agree its a bit close to the fence, but is the only suitable/available spot atm. I will replant it when needed.

It'll out grow the fence height before you know it.

11 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

It'll out grow the fence height before you know it.

Not all neighbours might like it when half your tree hangs over their side of the fence unfortunately. 

Short update, its doing good and it has become a bit greener past year. 

And apparently not the only one that started growing horizontally..

one of my trachy also starts with a horizontal trunk long time ago, but grows vertical now

This is said to be an Alpine trait seen in mountain plants to anchor themselves to irregular/

uneven ground that help the plant combat frost heave in areas where the ground can freeze

called the SFH trait...slope frost heave. I think T. Martianus and possibly T. Latisectus (coffee bean shaped seeds

rather than kidney shaped like most Trachycarpus) are the only ones I have not seen this in...although I would

have to look at some old pictures of my now deceased Latisectus to be sure....as they grow this curvature 

of the trunk goes away.

My Naini Tal has the creeping trunk ad well..here in Kansas 

Update #2025

One of mine had a very similar trunk when it was younger. The new growth almost seems to be growing in the opposite direction. 

Here is a pic from a different angle

6 hours ago, NMPalmjunky said:

Here is a pic from a different angle

It might be an odd take but I actually prefer palms to have curved angles like this one, and I also just planted one with a horizontal trunk this year so I appreciate you showing the end result, I think it looks great personally.

1 hour ago, palmofmyhand said:

It might be an odd take but I actually prefer palms to have curved angles like this one, and I also just planted one with a horizontal trunk this year so I appreciate you showing the end result, I think it looks great personally.

@palmofmyhandThank you I agree. It gives a little more of a tropical vibe. I was inspired by the below planting at my university. The picture is almost 10 years old, but I’ll try to get an update next time I am in the area. 

On 5/7/2025 at 11:07 AM, NMPalmjunky said:

@palmofmyhandThank you I agree. It gives a little more of a tropical vibe. I was inspired by the below planting at my university. The picture is almost 10 years old, but I’ll try to get an update next time I am in the area. 

that one does look great too, I do also want to see if it ended up straightening itself out at the top. I think they look best when they curve and then straighten out at the top.

9 minutes ago, palmofmyhand said:

that one does look great too, I do also want to see if it ended up straightening itself out at the top. I think they look best when they curve and then straighten out at the top.

I'm pretty sure it will straighten itself out. A buddy of mine has a few like that with about 10-15' of trunk. It still has that curve to it. This is from a year or so ago but you get the idea.

Update 2026, it’ s getting bigger, but still the trunk is still lagging behind a bit.

This palm has developed some surprisingly large and stiff leaflets this year.

The new growth does look nice.

That fuzz on the edge of the petioles caught my eye though. It almost looks like the petiole edges have some serrations or small spines. I know it is probably just a trick of the photo lighting, but it caught my attention.