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Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Rob N TN on December 9, 2025, 3:58 pm Trachycarpus wagnerianus has proven to be the best trunking palm for z6 and z7a/b, at least in my area with minimum protection. Some references are now giving it a zero hardiness for young palms (with protection) and minus -10* for mature and older palms (with little or no protection) ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ʙʏ ꜰʟᴏʀᴀ ɢʀᴜʙʙ'ꜱ ɢᴜɪᴅᴇꜱ Growing Notes Waggie palms have a shorter petiole and smaller, stiffer, blunted leaves than the typical windmill palm. They are also slower growing. Many growers think it is the most durable and beautiful of all trachycarpus. This palm is from the Himalayas and has adapted to have a furry trunk that insulates the palm from extreme cold. The furry trunks are great for mounting epiphytes, but Trachycarpus can also be “skinned” by removing the lingering furry leaf bases. This transforms the palm, giving it a slender, beautifully ringed trunk. The trunk will be light green at first, fading to black and then gray over time. To skin your palm start with the lowest leaf and use a serrated knife or hori hori to cut around the base of the old leaf where it connects to the trunk. Cut from one side to the other, pulling on the leaf and cutting through the leaf base, but not into the trunk. Getting started is a little tricky, but once you have part of the trunk skinned it’s easy going. If you live in a hot humid climate the fuzzy trunk will shed naturally, leaving a clean ringed trunk. These palms grow well in the sun or shade, but present in shade with long bouncy leaves. In sun the leaves are stiffer with shorter petioles (leaf stems). If planted at an angle, Trachycarpus will develop a pleasing upward bend as they grow towards the light. Avoid planting in a high wind area; they’ll grow fine in the wind but won’t look as lush, with brown tipped leaves. Waggie palms are the best choice of the trachycarpus in wind. The waggie palm, with its smaller blunted leaves, is one of the best palms for growing in a medium to large sized pot. Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients (especially including magnesium), especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves. You might think of palms as warm-weather plants, but many Trachycarpus are from the Himalayas, making them some of the most cold-hardy palms, thriving in areas as cold as -4F. So much for that tropical stereotype. They do great in pots too. ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ʙʏ ꜰʟᴏʀᴀ ɢʀᴜʙʙ'ꜱ ɢᴜɪᴅᴇꜱ

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Nick z7b Md on December 9, 2025, 4:23 pm, in reply to "Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" I agree. Good information. they are my favorite. What I like best about them is their tidy, stiff, cupped fronds.I don't find them any less hardy in my area than other trachs.Even after a hard blow, they won't het beat up.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Nick z7b Md on December 9, 2025, 4:44 pm, in reply to "Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" I agree. Good information.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Rob N TN on December 10, 2025, 3:10 am, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Thanks Nick, they are my favorite too. The reason you don't see any difference in hardiness is because you have a mid climate unlike many of us. I have a little palm tough as nails. Its a Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus x Naini Tal. Texas grower said its likely the hardiest trunking palm in existence. Time will tell. 3 years in the ground, no protection and had been doing great. A landscaper mowed it down by accident last spring but it's shot right back.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Nick z7b Md on December 10, 2025, 12:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Wow I've got to get one of those

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Nick z7 Md on December 10, 2025, 1:14 pm, in reply to "Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Did you grow the Waggie X Nani tal from seeds? I found some Waggie X Bulgaria seeds but no Trees or seedlings.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Rob N TN on December 10, 2025, 1:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Nick it was sent as a pint pot seedling. Its grown fairly fast but has a really full floppy crown, much like it belongs to another species but it is a hybrid. After being mowed down by mistake from a landscape worker, it has almost grown to its pre cut height at protection time, which is just mulch and a big ice chest during freezing rain/snow as a throw over if needed. That Waggie X Bulgaria sounds interesting. Both hardy species.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Rob N TN on December 10, 2025, 1:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Nick, I haven't been able to find another hybrid. The grower lost so much inventory during that Texas winter storm a few years ago, he closed. I was able to get another before that storm and sent it to a friend in Harlan Kentucky who has a similar climate as I have. My friend was going through some issues and may have moved. He doesn't post here anymore so I don't know how his plant performed. Weeks before that storm I ordered that palm again but never heard back from him. He did process my payment. I saw reviews on him that stated he closed and he stopped without fulfilling other orders. He had operated a good nursery and it had the best reviews. It was a shock to many. I hope you can find one. He pollinated the seeds himself.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by JimHardy on December 12, 2025, 7:34 am, in reply to "Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" I recall reading somewhere that this palm has never been found in the "wild" and was developed in Japan or Korea cant recall which,probably Japan and was bread for its smaller more stout leaves...it has always been one of my favorite Trachys and I always found it to be very tough and cold hardy besides being a absolutely gorgeous palm!

More info on the group Trachycarpus Posted by JimHardy on December 12, 2025, 7:40 am, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" https://dmkert.hu/publication/the_genus_trachycarpus

Re: More info on the group Trachycarpus Posted by Rob N TN on December 12, 2025, 6:56 pm, in reply to "More info on the group Trachycarpus" Thanks Jim for sharing this. A keeper of an article. I love that palm

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Rob N TN on December 12, 2025, 7:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" I agree Jim, I've always heard it doesn't exist in the wild either, thus a hybrid or/and reclaimed from extension. Thank goodness for the horticulturist Dr. Winter who bought the entire stock imported from Japan by the German horticulturist Albert Wagner, after whom he named the species. It can be found worldwide now. Great men, thanks Jim,

Re: More info on the group Trachycarpus Posted by JimHardy on December 12, 2025, 10:46 pm, in reply to "Re: More info on the group Trachycarpus" It really is a lovable little palm! Heres one from the old place

And another Posted by JimHardy on December 12, 2025, 10:58 pm, in reply to "Re: More info on the group Trachycarpus" Waggie and T.Bulgaria Bonus Y.Rostrata pic The good old days BTW this little palm Sabal Brazoria is still alive after 7 years with no protection at the old house AMAZING...there was a S.McCurtain and variegated Y.Gloriosa still alive in the yard but the lawnmower took them out.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by FredSC on December 13, 2025, 8:08 am, in reply to "Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Waggie seem to grow much slower than fortunei. Is my experience. Also they do need some direct sun . Mine is in the shade snd gets no direct sun. As a result they grow white long petioles and don’t look quite like a wagnerianus. I do love mine, but wish it was more in sunshine. Shade doesn’t seem to change the fan itself too much in that they are still quite stiff , only petiole is drastically different than type.

whoa Posted by Rob N TN on December 14, 2025, 12:02 am, in reply to "And another " Jim, that Trachycarpus hybrid is unusual and rare for sure. Its a nice one and sounds mystic like my Waggie x Nain'Ital. I hope we have luck with these, It sounds like we both are doing good. I need to try Brazora again. It died in 2 years unprotected. I didn't know what I was doing over 25 years ago. I've killed big Torreyi, Carnerosana, Treculeana (never protected) Thank GOD Rostrata and Elata are bulletproof. Jim I've always loved those landscape you create.

Handsome Trachycarpus wagnerianus - Banana sp (?) Posted by Rob N TN on December 14, 2025, 12:39 am, in reply to "Re: More info on the group Trachycarpus" Classic Jim, I forgot about that palm. You should have dug that palm up and took it across town with you. Jim, If you see this, What type of Banana is that growing near that palm? It doesn't look like M.basjoo. The trunk looks slick and attractive. Could it be the "green" form of Abyssinian Banana Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii ?

Re: Handsome Trachycarpus wagnerianus - Banana sp (?) Posted by JimHardy on December 14, 2025, 8:51 am, in reply to "Handsome Trachycarpus wagnerianus - Banana sp (?)" Thanks Rob The banana is Ensete Glaucum,she was a beauty with a white trunk and beautiful light green leaves. I had to dig up a bunch of bushes at the new place and move everything from one place to the other and was just looking to start over...so much work!

Re: whoa Posted by JimHardy on December 14, 2025, 8:54 am, in reply to "whoa" Thanks Rob That place had so many amazing plants,I miss that yard but not that place,it took a lot of work to cover everything but it was worth it when spring rolled around!

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Rob N TN on December 14, 2025, 4:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Very interesting in your climate Fred. Mine seems to be just a tad less faster than T.'fortunei' and much much faster than Sabal Palmetto. Mine is growing in a sunny south microclimate, just a throw over tarp in bad winter events and getting a little over a foot of trunk growth per year. Always mindful of spear damage, Thanks Fred.

Re: whoa Posted by Rob N TN on December 14, 2025, 4:15 pm, in reply to "Re: whoa" Definitely a rewarding feeling. Thanks friend

Ensete Glaucum Posted by Rob N TN on December 14, 2025, 4:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Handsome Trachycarpus wagnerianus - Banana sp (?)" I knew you grew 'ensete sp'. That banana is amazing and yes it takes dedication and a strong back to do the things you have done. Moving sucks when you have to leave things behind. Thanks Jim for the ID. I still have a few Abyssinian Banana Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii potted since I never was able to get them back out and in the ground this year.

Re: Ensete Glaucum Posted by JimHardy on December 14, 2025, 9:35 pm, in reply to "Ensete Glaucum" I ordered a bunch of seeds of the Glaucum last time I grew one here a few years back,only one came up. They seem to have become harder to find these days...

This palm is on my list…. Posted by Tom in PA on December 15, 2025, 2:13 pm, in reply to "Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" to get one day amico. Probably it will be a potted palm. Thanks for the information. How is yours doing? Hopefully it gets a mild winter!

Re: This palm is on my list…. Posted by Rob N TN on December 17, 2025, 11:49 am, in reply to "This palm is on my list…." Ciao Tom, I hope you get one too. At least get your name on a waiting list for a seedling or two at Mail Order Natives. https://www.mailordernatives.com/ My palm is doing great .It has minis on it and a throw over when needed. It's really the only choice we have for a trunker to survive our winter. I had my lowest temp over the weekend, 10* and just a skiff of snow, a flurry or two but this weather pattern seems to be holding as advertised. Winter isnt even technically here yet but a warm spring is forecast. Tom, I lost all my addresses but please accept this as sincere wish to you all.

Tom Posted by Rob N TN on December 17, 2025, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: This palm is on my list…." Sorry, at this time Mail Order Natives isnt selling that palm but are taking back order request for Sabal sp. Louisiana. Worth a try and I've always wanted one of these too. https://www.mailordernatives.com/sabal-lousiana-louisiana-bluestem-palm-1-gallon/

Options Posted by Rob N TN on December 17, 2025, 12:33 pm, in reply to "Tom" Tom for Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus you have two options right off that I can think of, Steve in Northern Alabama was selling it but dont remember any particulars and Jungle Music is where I ordered mine. (no complaints) They aren't the cheapest, Jungle Music was selling 3g for $75 but only have 5g now at $145 , while the palms are immaculate, that's a little high. I would connect with Steve in Alabama for a better deal. Steve is honest and has nice palms.

Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus Posted by Nick z7b Md on December 18, 2025, 9:46 am, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Rob The 7 Wags that i bought in 2020 were from Plant Delights. pots Some are 3 gal.Every where I read about Waggies they are said to be less hardy than Fortune,Bulgaria and Naini Tal. Plant delights has waggie rated as 7a while the others are rated as 7b?

Hardiness Posted by Rob N TN on December 21, 2025, 9:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Trachycarpus sp. wagnerianus" Nick they say Im in z7a (0*) the lowest of lows for a z7a and we do see a few single digits most winters but I have never had a problem with this palm. I guess it's been awhile but I didn't know PDN sold 3g specimens. I still throw a blue tarp over it during winter precip events just in case. They are said to get hardier with age. The tarp thing, in winter after a cold rain the clouds clear out and the temps bottom. Always chance for spear pull. A good towel over the spears help though. I bet your z 7b or z8. Be mindful anyways Nick.

Re: Hardiness Posted by Nick z7b Md on December 29, 2025, 1:26 pm, in reply to "Hardiness" They don't .I grew them to 3 gal it took 5 years. I'm looking for a Bulgaria x NaniTal.

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