English Name/ Common name- Chinese Fan Palm/ Fountain Palm
Local name- ಚೀನೀ ತಾಳೆ ಮರ
Botanical name- Livistona chinensis
Appearance- Their fronds arch up and then spill downward like water from a fountain. Each frond can grow 40 to 60 inches long. These slow-growing palms have a bushy appearance when they are young. But in roughly a decade, their single, slender, grayish-brown trunk will have grown tall enough to be classified as a tree. The flowers are cream in color while the fruits are dark-blue to grey-blue in color.
Origin- Livistona Chinensis is native to Eastern Asia including China, Japan (i.e., Ryukyu Islands, Bonin Islands), and Taiwan.
Conditions required for growth- Chinese Fan Palms grow well in warm, humid climates and are very suitable as indoor potted palms. They grow best in full sun to partial shade. Young palms prefer some shade. These palms can tolerate a variety of soil types, including sandy and clay if there is good drainage. They thrive in rich loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. Slightly moist but not soggy soil is ideal for Chinese fan palms. Established Chinese fan palms do have some drought tolerance, but you must water them during dry spells.
Uses- The Chinese Palm is widely planted as an ornamental throughout tropical and subtropical areas of the world. It is often planted in gardens, parking lots, parks, and avenues. In Asia, leaves are used for making hats, fans, brooms, and raincoats.
