Evelyn

Livistona chinensis

Chinese Fountain Palm, Fan Palm

• Evelyn likes...
  • 
    Regular watering

    Water Evelyn regularly throughout the growing season (spring and summer) and cut back a bit over winter.

  • 
    Most light conditions

    She’ll appreciate a bright spot but will be quite happy in a room that gets a mix of light and shade throughout the day.

  • 
    Feeding

    Being spectacular is hard work, so keep Evelyn’s energy up with a regular monthly feed of plant food from spring to autumn.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Livistona chinensis

  Nickname

  Chinese Fountain Palm, Fan Palm

  Plant type

  Evergreen indoor, Palm

  Plant height (including pot)

  150-160cm 

  Pet/baby safe

  Mildly toxic if ingested

  Nursery pot size

  35cm

• About Livistona chinensis

  If you want an architectural plant that will add a tropical feel to your indoor vibes, then look no further. Livistona chinensis grows wild in countries like China and Vietnam, where it can grow up to 12 metres tall over its lifespan. You won’t have to fight palm fronds to get through your front door though – by keeping your plant in a pot and constricting the size of the root ball, you can limit how tall it grows. You’ll want to give it a decent amount of space in order for it to take pride of place in your home though. 

  Its common names, ‘Fountain’ and ‘Fan’ palm are the perfect ways to describe its segmented green fronds (the botanical name for palm leaves) which are held upright by sturdy stems. With time your palm may grow taller by developing a thick trunk from which the fronds will spill out like a fountain. Its tropical native growing conditions give us a clue as to what it needs to live happily here in the UK: warmth and humidity. If you have a conservatory or sheltered spot outdoors like a patio or courtyard then you can move your plant outdoors over summer, but because it’s sensitive to frost, remember to bring it back in before the chill sets in.

  Did you know?

  In countries like Bermuda, Hawaii and Florida, where it grows in the wild and thrives in the humid conditions, the Fountain palm has become a bit of a nuisance and is now considered a ‘weed’.