Chusan palm

The hemp or windmill palm, also listed sometimes as Chamaerops excelsa, is a fine evergreen Himalayan palm, medium-sized in gardens but ultimately 10-12m (33-40ft) after a century or so in a good climate. It is the hardiest of the trachycarpus species, and thrives in mild seaside gardens, where it flowers and seeds itself freely, adding tropical flair to planting schemes. Elsewhere it requires the shelter of a warm wall to protect it from frost and the cold winds which can shred its huge fan-shaped leaves. In cold gardens, it is best grown as a container plant. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).