Livistona Jenkinsiana, Himalayan Fan Palm - 0.5 kg Seeds

The Himalayan Fan Palm (Livistona jenkinsiana) is a tall, robust fan palm with a stout grey trunk and a crown of large, semi-circular, pleated fronds. It is a culturally important palm of northeastern India, especially Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

It is grown as an ornamental and avenue palm, and its tough leaves are traditionally used for thatching and to make the conical Assamese 'jaapi' hats and sun-shades, while the plant lends a bold tropical structure to large landscapes. It is native to the Himalayan foothills and northeast India and adjoining Southeast Asia, and prefers warm, humid conditions on deep, moist, well-drained soil.

• Family: Arecaceae
• Native region: Northeast India and the eastern Himalayan foothills
• Mature height: 10-20 m
• Growth rate: Slow to moderate

Clean the ripe fruit fully from the seed and soak it in water for 2-3 days. Sow shallowly in a warm, humid seed tray of moist, free-draining mix at 25-30 C; germination is slow, typically 30 or more days. Pot the seedlings on into deep bags once they have one or two leaves and grow on in light shade.