Trachycarpus princeps

Stone Gate Palm

(8 customer reviews)

Trachycarpus princeps is particularly close to our hearts as Martin Gibbons, founder of The Palm Centre, played a major part in its introduction to cultivation in the UK and Europe.

The Stone Gate palm, alike other Trachycarpus species, has large fan shaped leaves and a thick, hairy trunk. The princeps is easily distinguished by the pale glaucous-white undersides to its leaves.

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Origin: China
Genus: Trachycarpus
Species / Cultivar: princeps
Common Name: Stone Gate Palm

Plant Biography

Native to southwestern China, Trachycarpus princeps lives upon the steep cliffs and banks of the Nuijang river.

It has become a very popular palm in the UK climate both for its hardiness and its uniquely glaucous-white undersides to the leaves.

Trachycarpus princeps
Soil: Moist but Well Drained
Soil that allows water to drain at a moderate rate, without the water pooling.
Growth Rate: Medium
Expect to see moderate growth during growing season.
Water Requirement: Medium
Once it is established, this plant is likely to only require watering during drier periods.
Maintenance: A little
Easy to look after but may occasionally require some attention in order to thrive.
Situation: Full Sun
Wants direct, unfiltered sunlight most of the day, such as a south facing position.
Eventual Height: 7-8m
The plant's ultimate height in typical growing conditions.
Eventual Spread: 2.5m
The plant's ultimate spread in typical growing conditions.
Hardiness: Hardy
Survives unprotected in an average winter. May need protection in extreme long frosts.
Habit: Evergreen
Always in leaf throughout the year. It won't lose all its leaves at any one time.

Palm trivia

The specific epithet 'princeps' refers to its princely form and, as Martin described it in 1993, the "stately bearing of this palm and the majestic way it looks down from its lofty position on the sheer cliff faces"
Trachycarpus princeps' Introduction

Trachycarpus princeps' Introduction

The chance finding of a single line in an old Chinese plant book led Martin Gibbons and Tobias Spanner on several expeditions to southwestern China, discovering what was thought by the author to be Trachycarpus martianus was actually an unidentified, distinguishable species.

Along the banks of the Nujiang, on two almost vertical bare marble cliffs of the Stone Gate, Trachycarpus princpeps was discovered and, over several expeditions, eventually brought into cultivation in the UK and Europe.

Care & Size Guidance

Care & Size Guidance

The Stone Gate palm tolerates both full sun and cold better than Trachycarpus latisectus and martianus. Whilst it’s not as hardy as fortunei or wagnerianus, its certainly reliably hardy for UK gardens once it has been established.

Younger plants may benefit from fleece jacket protection whilst they become established.

The glaucous-white undersides of the leaves tend to become more pronounced as the plant matures.

8 customer reviews for Trachycarpus princeps

Plant arrived in excellent condition, carefully packaged and on time, plus with a guide for looking after the palm. Very many thanks to all at the Palm Centre.

Greg M.

I have four other species of Trachycarpus, and this is quite the prettiest. Seeing the place of origin is limestone cliffs, it should be an ideal palm for those who have to make their garden on nine inches of topsoil over hundreds of feet of solid chalk.

David Saunders

I bought the smallest princeps but it still looks great & look forward to watching it grow

Paul

Only small but beautiful shaped palm cant Wait to see it grow.

johnshaw