Chamaerops humilis / Dwarf fan Palm
Chamaerops humilis is a bushy evergreen palm. Its foliage is made up of pinnate leaves covered in a brown hairy fibre. The fan shaped leaves can be up to 45cm long. It is a medium sized shrub. Small yellow flowers appear on mature plants. Chamaerops humilis prefers a sheltered position in partial shade. It also prefers a well drained soil. It has an eventual height of 1 – 2.5m and a spread of 1 – 1.5m. Chamaerops humilis is also known as the European Stool Palm.
Cordyline australis / New Zealand Cabbage
Cordyline australis is a small evergreen tree. It has pale green foliage with arching linear to lanceolate leaves emerging from a single trunk. It produces small fragrant creamy-white flowers. Cordyline australis is very hardy against salt laden winds. It is sometimes used for screening. It will grow in full sun and partial shade, and prefers a sheltered position. It will also grow in well drained or moist well drained soil. Cordyline australis has an eventual height of 4-8m and a spread of 2.5-4m.
Trachycarpus fortunei / Chusan Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei is noted for its single stem, columnar trunk covered in a hairy brown fibre. It produces large fan-shaped dark green leaves, which are pale green to ash grey underneath. The flowers are long panicles of pendulous yellow, which are followed by blackish-blue fruit. Trachycarpus fortunei will grow in large pots or containers. and is the hardest palm in Britain. It has an eventual height of 20m and a spread of 2.5m. Trachycarpus fortunei needs to be sheltered from cold, drying winds.
