Chinese Fan Palm brings resort-level calm to courtyards, pool decks, and bright living rooms. Broad, pleated fans flare from a tidy trunk, adding instant architecture and soft motion to the scene. Slow-growing and container ready, it’s as happy on a patio as it is in the ground.
Use it to frame an entry, punctuate a seating area, or cluster two or three for a layered, tropical backdrop. Even off-season, the airy canopy reads lush and intentional.
Chinese Fan Palm Care
Outdoors, give full sun to partial shade (4–8 hours); in very hot climates, offer afternoon protection while young. Indoors, place in bright, indirect light 3–6 feet from an east or west window. Plant in sharply drained sandy or loamy soil, pH 6.0–7.5; use a coarse palm mix in containers. Water deeply, then let the top 1–2 inches dry before the next soak.
Expect weekly watering in summer outdoors and every 10–14 days indoors; adjust to temperature, pot size, and light. Mulch 2–3 inches, keeping mulch off the trunk. Feed spring through early fall with a slow-release palm fertilizer that includes magnesium and manganese, 2–3 times per season. Prune only spent or damaged fronds—avoid removing healthy green leaves. Hardy in USDA Zones 9–11; if potted, overwinter above 45–50°F. Watch for scale, spider mites, and mealybugs and treat promptly if seen.
Chinese Fan Palm Spacing
For a specimen, allow 10–12 ft of horizontal clearance and 18–25 ft of overhead space. For groupings, set plants 7–9 ft on center so crowns can fan without crowding. Keep 3–4 ft from paths, driveways, pools, or walls for safe frond clearance. In containers, start with a 15–20 in diameter pot (7–10 gal) and step up to 22–26 in (15–25 gal) as the palm matures. Choose a heavy, stable container with large drainage holes and position 2–3 ft from walls to let fronds spread. Shelter young plants from strong, drying winds; staking is rarely necessary.
Why Grow Chinese Fan Palm?
- Versatile indoors or out, staying manageable in containers yet striking in the landscape
- Fan-shaped fronds that arc and sway, adding bold texture and gentle movement
- Low-touch once established; tolerates brief drought and wind with good drainage
- Slow to moderate growth for long-term patio use without constant repotting
- Handles a range of soils and responds well to palm-formula nutrition
Petiole edges can be lightly toothed; wear gloves when pruning and site away from narrow walkways.
Bring home Chinese Fan Palm to cast cool, tropical vibes year-round. It’s a sculptural, easygoing centerpiece that makes any space feel curated and lush.
- SKU:
- TRO-PAL-CHF-LGL
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations