Hardy Palms


Hardy palms for UK gardens. Chusan, Wagner's windmill, dwarf fan and other cold-hardy palm species tough enough to live outdoors in Britain all year. Compact enough for a courtyard, bold enough for an exotic border.

3 products

    3 products
    Trachycarpus wagnerianus 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Wagner's Windmill Palm (Miniature Chusan Palm)

    Trachycarpus wagnerianus

    £39.99
    1
    Washingtonia filifera Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    California Fan Palm (Desert Fan Palm)

    Washingtonia filifera

    £39.99
    1
    Chamaerops humilis 14cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    European Fan Palm (Mediterranean Fan Palm)

    Chamaerops humilis

    £21.99
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Hardy Palms

    What are hardy palms?

    A small group of palm species are genuinely hardy enough to live outdoors in the UK all year, without a greenhouse or winter wrap. The classic is Trachycarpus fortunei, the Chusan palm, which has been growing across Britain since the 1830s and reliably handles temperatures well below freezing. Its close relative T. wagnerianus is slightly smaller and more wind-resistant, better for exposed sites. Dwarf fan palms (Chamaerops humilis) add a shorter, clump-forming option for pots and gravel gardens. Before your first hardy palm, we recommend reading our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons.

    Care essentials for hardy palms

    • Position: Full sun to partial shade. Trachycarpus tolerates both, but full sun gives faster growth and better trunk formation.
    • Soil: Any moist but well-drained soil. Avoid heavy waterlogged clay in winter. Enrich planting holes with grit for drainage.
    • Hardiness: Trachycarpus fortunei is RHS H5 (down to around minus 15 degrees). T. wagnerianus is similar. Individual product pages carry the specific RHS rating.
    • Watering: Water deeply through the first two summers to establish. Established palms in the ground rarely need watering. Container palms need regular water and a monthly summer feed.
    • Winter care: Tie fronds loosely upright before the first hard frost to protect the crown from cold rain. Newly planted or young palms benefit from a fleece wrap through their first two winters.

    Explore the hardy palm range

    Pair hardy palms with tree ferns, hardy bananas and clumping bamboos for a full exotic border, or use them as standalone structural specimens in large pots and containers. See the full Hardy Exotics range for more.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Several palms cope well with British winters, with the Chusan palm (Trachycarpus) among the toughest and most popular. Each palm in this collection is labelled with its RHS hardiness rating and minimum temperature so you can pick one suited to your area.

    Yes, hardy palms grow well in large containers for many years, which makes them ideal for patios and balconies. Use a heavy, free-draining pot and a loam-based compost, and water regularly through summer.

    Established hardy palms usually need none in milder areas. In cold or exposed gardens, wrapping the crown with fleece in hard frosts and keeping the roots from sitting in wet helps them through the worst of winter.

    Most hardy palms are fairly slow and steady, adding a trunk gradually over the years. That slow growth is part of their charm, as they stay in proportion and need very little pruning.

    A sunny, sheltered spot with free-draining soil is ideal. Shelter from cold drying winds and good drainage matter more than anything, since palms dislike sitting cold and wet through winter.

    Hardy palms for a UK garden

    Nothing says holiday quite like a palm, and the good news is that several palms are tough enough to live outdoors in Britain all year. Hardy palms bring instant height, a fan or feather of evergreen leaves and a real focal point to a garden, courtyard or patio. The varieties in this collection are chosen for their cold tolerance, so they keep their looks through a normal UK winter.

    Palms in pots for patios and balconies

    Most hardy palms are very happy in a large container, which makes them one of the best statement plants for a patio, balcony or doorway. Grown in a pot a palm stays a manageable size for years, and you can move it to a sheltered spot in the coldest weeks if you like. Use a free-draining, loam-based compost and a heavy pot that will not blow over.

    Planting palms in the ground

    In a border, give your palm a sunny, sheltered position with free-draining soil, as cold and wet together are harder on palms than cold alone. Plant in late spring so the roots can establish before winter, and keep young plants watered through their first summer.

    Winter care

    Established hardy palms need little attention, but in very cold or exposed gardens it pays to tie up the leaves and wrap the crown with fleece during hard frosts. Avoid leaving pots standing in waterlogged saucers over winter. Check the hardiness rating on each palm to match it to your garden.