Super tall Trachycarpus fortunei specimens in Southern Pines, NC

[Hardy-palm-enthusiast]

If you’re interested in observing some very tall Windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) in the Sand Hills ecoregion, check out Gullys Nursery in Southern Pines, NC. Some of the ones there were 25ft + and looked really well.

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

8 hours ago, Hardy-palm-enthusiast said:

If you’re interested in observing some very tall Windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) in the Sand Hills ecoregion, check out Gullys Nursery in Southern Pines, NC. Some of the ones there were 25ft + and looked really well.

In my area, we have some really tall ones too, close to that and some exceeding 25'. Those are beauties!

[Las Palmas Norte]

At this stage of growth, I do like the hula skirt these have.

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

@Las Palmas Norte Check these "hula skirts" out, lol.

[Las Palmas Norte]

That's just down right laziness. Personally, the ratio has to be right otherwise it appears neglected.

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

5 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

That's just down right laziness. Personally, the ratio has to be right otherwise it appears neglected.

Yeah that's an evening gown, not a skirt. 😂 Maybe the owners are too old to tackle the task? I don't know but anyways... Me personally, I trim any frond that is dead looking, I don't care for the look myself. On the other hand, a buddy of mine has to use an extension ladder and a pole saw for his rather tall windmills. I have a fear of heights, so I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

4 hours ago, Zone7Bpalmguy said:

Yeah that's an evening gown, not a skirt. 😂 Maybe the owners are too old to tackle the task? I don't know but anyways... Me personally, I trim any frond that is dead looking, I don't care for the look myself. On the other hand, a buddy of mine has to use an extension ladder and a pole saw for his rather tall windmills. I have a fear of heights, so I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. 

Tall palm trimming is a bit beyond my comfort zone too. I have a healthy respect for heights now that I'm in my later 60's.

[howfam]

On 1/2/2026 at 11:06 PM, Hardy-palm-enthusiast said:

If you’re interested in observing some very tall Windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) in the Sand Hills ecoregion, check out Gullys Nursery in Southern Pines, NC. Some of the ones there were 25ft + and looked really well.w

Wow !! What gorgeous Trachys. I looked on street view at Gulley's Nursery and saw other tall Trachy's in front of the business. If you know of other tall Trachys please tell us where or post pics with that information. Thanks.

[SeanK]

On 1/4/2026 at 12:10 PM, Las Palmas Norte said:

Tall palm trimming is a bit beyond my comfort zone too. I have a healthy respect for heights now that I'm in my later 60's.

Yeah, clean or a one-year skirt. But as the get tall, they're tough to maintain. Outside of CA or FL hard to find someone experienced in trimming. 

[Enar]

I believe untrimmed is more natural, and beautiful just because of that reason.

I also believe in a self-sustaining environment as opposed to just synthetic fertilizer applications, or weed/bug killer applications. I do believe in synthetic fertilizer applications mixed with self-sustaining environments however.

By self-sustaining environments I mean that the fruit is formed, falls when ripe, gets eaten by whatever microscopic bugs are down in the soil, gets transformed into fertilizer for the plant. 

I attached an image of bugs working hard at night after an application of Unsulfured Blackstrap Molasses 

Just my opinion.