The trunk, with its brown fibers reminiscent of hemp, gave the palm its German name, Hanfpalme (hemp palm). The leaves of this beautiful fan palm are exceptionally robust and deeply lobed to the base. Up to ten new leaves sprout vertically from the heart of the palm each year. Older leaves at the lower edge of the crown fall off over the years. Since it originates at an altitude of approximately 2,500 meters in the Asian highlands, which is generally considered inhospitable for palms, mature specimens can even withstand snow and frosts down to -18°C.
Natural habitat: The hemp palm is native to China and southern Japan, where it is frequently cultivated as a crop.
