Plants of Merit

Published 3:05 pm Wednesday, July 14, 2010

WHAT: This exotic looking windmill palm is one of the hardiest palms available for Northwest gardeners.

Its symmetrical leaves form a 3-foot fan and feature finely toothed edges.

Its unusual single trunk looks like it’s covered in burlap, but it is actually a loose mat of coarse brown fiber.

This tree, also known as trachycarpus fortunei, provides a structure that complements the movement of grasses in the breeze. When grown with a variety of ornamental grasses, it can practically transport you to the tropics.

SUN OR SHADE: This palm prefers shade to part shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid locations with high winds to keep its foliage tidy.

SIZE: Though windmill palms are slow growing, they can reach 10 to 20 feet within 10 years. If you’re in college, plant one now. When you retire, you’ll enjoy a 50-foot palm tree.

Windmill palms are also well-suited for large pots or planted in multiples in the ground.

SEE IT: Find this palm west of the education pavilion at the southern end of Evergreen Arboretum &Gardens, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett, www. evergreenarboretum.com.

Source: Sandra Schumacher, Evergreen Arboretum &Gardens