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

Trachycarpus wagnerianus

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Hardy in the UKSun-lovingShade-tolerantEvergreen
Pot size

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Description

The Trachycarpus wagnerianus, also known as the dwarf Chusan palm or Wagner's windmill palm (and affectionately the 'Waggie'), is the connoisseur's choice among hardy palms: all the exotic presence of the classic Chusan palm, but in a tougher, more compact and far more weather resistant package. Its fan-shaped fronds are smaller, stiffer and held more rigidly than those of its better known cousin Trachycarpus fortunei, with neatly rolled edges that shrug off wind rather than tearing. The result is a tidy, almost sculpted crown that stays looking immaculate even in exposed and coastal gardens where larger-leaved palms would tatter.

Like the common Chusan palm it is reliably garden hardy, rated RHS H5 and comfortable down to around -15C once established, so it holds its evergreen canopy of glossy fans right through a British winter. The slender trunk is clothed in the same characterful brown fibre, and mature specimens carry arching sprays of small yellow flowers in early summer. Slower and more restrained than T. fortunei, the Waggie stays in proportion for many years, reaching an eventual 3 to 6 m, which makes it ideal for smaller plots, courtyards and large patio containers.

Water regularly through the first couple of summers to settle in a strong root system, after which it becomes impressively drought tolerant. An annual spring mulch and a balanced feed keep the crown lush and growth steady. With its bold, architectural silhouette it earns a place at the heart of any hardy exotic or jungle-style planting scheme, equally at home as a structural specimen or in a large container.

Every Trachycarpus wagnerianus we supply is nursery grown, hand selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition, ready to bring resilient, wind proof exotica to your garden.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Wagner's Windmill Palm (Miniature Chusan Palm)

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Wagner's Windmill Palm (Miniature Chusan Palm)

Trachycarpus wagnerianus needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Architectural Coastal & Exposed Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H5 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −15°C

reliably hardy across most of the UK, with young crowns worth fleecing in severe frost.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeNorth-facingEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

full sun to partial shade. Its wind resistant fronds make it one of the best palms for open, exposed and coastal sites.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

any fertile, free draining soil, from chalk to clay and across the full pH range. Good drainage matters most.

Watering

Water regularly through the first two summers to settle the roots, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Once established it is notably drought tolerant; an annual spring mulch and a balanced feed encourage steady growth and a lush crown. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first two summers to settle the roots, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Once established it is notably drought tolerant; an annual spring mulch and a balanced feed encourage steady growth and a lush crown.

Mature size

Height3-6 m
Spread2-2.5 m

Reaches full size in 20-50 years

Growth habit

Columnar/upright

Flowering

May-Jun

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Never cut the crown. In spring simply trim off the lowest brown, dead fronds close to the trunk, leaving the healthy green head untouched.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets; generally considered non-toxic, though the fibrous leaf bases and sharp petiole edges can cause minor physical irritation.

Native range

Known only in cultivation (E. Asia)

Family

Arecaceae

Also known as

Trachycarpus wagnerianus

Genus

Trachycarpus
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Trachycarpus wagnerianus hardy?

Yes, it is one of the hardiest palms you can grow outdoors in Britain, rated RHS H5 and tolerating around -15C once established. Its smaller, stiffer fronds resist cold, drying winds better than the common Chusan palm, so it stays evergreen and tidy right through a UK winter. Fleece the crown of young plants during prolonged hard frosts in very exposed or northern gardens.

How fast does Trachycarpus wagnerianus grow?

It is a slow, steady grower, adding only a few centimetres of trunk each year and a touch slower than Trachycarpus fortunei. That unhurried pace is exactly what gives the Waggie its prized dense, compact crown, and it keeps the palm in proportion for many years rather than quickly outgrowing its spot.

How tall does Trachycarpus wagnerianus grow?

Over many years it can eventually reach around 3 to 6 m, though in a typical UK garden you can expect a manageable specimen of roughly 2 to 2.5 m for a long time. It is noticeably more compact than the common Chusan palm, which makes it a great fit for smaller gardens, courtyards and patio containers.

What is the difference between Trachycarpus wagnerianus and fortunei?

Both are fully hardy windmill palms with the same RHS H5 rating, but wagnerianus has smaller, stiffer, more rigid leaves with rolled edges that shrug off wind, where Trachycarpus fortunei has larger, softer fans that can tatter in exposed spots. The Waggie is also more compact and slightly slower growing, giving a neater, more sculpted crown that suits windy, coastal and smaller gardens.

Is Trachycarpus wagnerianus good for pots and windy or coastal gardens?

Yes. Its wind resistant fronds make it one of the best palms for exposed and coastal gardens, and its slow, compact habit means it is happy in a large patio container for several seasons. Grow it in free draining compost, keep it watered while establishing, and protect the pot in the coldest snaps.

Are Trachycarpus roots invasive?

No. Trachycarpus palms have fine, fibrous roots rather than the thick, woody roots of many trees, so they are not invasive and will not threaten paving, walls or foundations. That makes them a safe choice for smaller gardens, courtyards and planting near the house.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
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Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

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Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Trachycarpus wagnerianus
£23.99 £25.99