Trachycarpus fortunei
We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week.
Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.
Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) is a slender, cold-hardy fan palm from China with a trunk wrapped in dark fibrous sheaths and a crown of stiff fan-shaped fronds. Rated for zones 8a-11, it is one of the most cold-tolerant palms available and an excellent ornamental choice for NE Florida zone 9b landscapes. For sale in St. Augustine, FL from $150.00.
Good planting window.
Bloom season. Can be planted with extra attention to watering.
Bloom season. Ideal planting window.
Retains foliage through winter.
Windmill Palm tolerates full sun, partial sun, and partial shade. In NE Florida, a location with afternoon shade helps reduce heat stress during peak summer, though established trees handle full sun well when given adequate moisture.
Water faithfully during establishment. Once established, Windmill Palm is moderately drought-tolerant but performs best with consistent moisture during NE Florida's dry season (November-May). Avoid waterlogged soils, which promote root rot.
Grows in sandy, loamy, or fertile well-drained soils. Apply a palm-specific slow-release fertilizer (e.g., 8-2-12 with micronutrients) three times per year to prevent magnesium and potassium deficiencies common in NE Florida's leached sandy soils.
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, moderate water, acidic, and zone 9a hardiness.
Shares 4 of the same needs: shade, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Shares 3 of the same needs: full sun, moderate water, and sandy.
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, moderate water, sandy, and zone 9a hardiness.
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, moderate water, sandy, and zone 9a hardiness.
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Windmill Palm is a palm for Zone 9b coastal Florida gardens, reaching 20-40 feet × 6-10 feet.
Last reviewed March 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.
