European Fan Palm Tree

Bringing Tropical Breezes to Moderate Climates

If you’ve dreamed of palm trees swaying in the breeze, but stopped short of planting one because of cold winters, look no further. The hardy European Fan Palm, with its showy leaves, can resist the cold all the way down to 10 degrees F, and it’s even resistant to drought. That’s why this palm has gained such popularity.

The European Fan Palm is the only palm that is native to the dry, mountainous Mediterranean region, primarily along the coast of Spain, Italy and Turkey to the north and Morocco to the south.

Its appearance is as exotic as its origins: huge, deeply divided fan-shaped triangular leaves form a bushy mass of foliage hiding small bright yellow clusters of blooms against the trunk. In the fall, small dark yellow, orange or brown fruit replaces the flowers.

If you want to dazzle your friends, plant the European Fan Palm in a container and use it as a focal point on the patio. What a statement that will make!

As each palm grows, its slender stems mature into multiple trunks, but you can train the palm to grow into a single-trunk, tall tree rather than a bushy shrub.

This is one of the most popular palm trees in moderate climates, so hurry and order yours while you can still get one.

Planting and Care

Location: Place your European Fan Palms in a location that has well-draining soil and receives full or partial sunlight. These plants need a minimum of 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If you are planting your trees as a screen, place them at least 15-20 feet apart to allow room for growth.

1. Planting: You don’t have to immediately repot your plant – you’ll only need to repot approximately every other year, once your Palm outgrows its shipped container or original pot. Increase the pot size by 2 inches each time you repot to accommodate new growth.

If growing outdoors make sure you give the palm well-draining soil and adequate space above to grow.

2. Watering: Mist your Palm weekly if kept indoors in addition to regular watering – this ensures that its native humid climate is simulated in your home. If you’re not sure when to water, simply check the soil about 2 inches down. If the soil is dry here, it’s time to water.

FGT Tip: If fronds begin to yellow, it could be a sign of overwatering. If you see yellowed fronds, allow time for the soil to dry before watering your plant again. Browning fronds, however, mean that your Palm is not getting enough water and needs more. Using a well-draining potting mix is key in getting this balance.

3. Pruning: Simply any fronds as they turn yellow or brown. This improves the look of your plant and creates clean space for healthier green fronds to grow. Use care when pruning as parts of the palm can be quite sharp.

4. Fertilizing: You can apply palm fertilizers that contain specific nutrients best suited for palms. If you prefer, you can also use a balanced fertilizer, such as an 8-8-8 formula, for quicker growth in spring and summer.