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The Chinese fan palm is relatively slow growing, typically reaching about 30 feet in height. Its fan-shaped, costapalmate leaves can be 3 to 4 feet across and up to 6 feet long. Petioles of juvenile palms are spiny but have few or no spines in adult palms. Because of its gracefully drooping leaf segment tips, this species is sometimes called the “fountain palm.” Young specimens are slow to form a trunk, which has led to the unfortunate practice of planting these palms close together as a ground cover. Eventually, most of those closely planted palms will have to be removed to accommodate their 10 to 12-foot spread. They are adaptable to a wide range of soils, and are considered to be tolerant of drought and moderately tolerant of salt spray. They grow well in light shade or in full sunlight. Flower stalks up to 6 feet long arise from within the crown and are relatively inconspicuous, but the 1/2 x 3/4 inch blue-green fruits can weigh down the lower leaves, resulting in a two-tiered or split canopy. These fruits are consumed and dispersed by birds and small mammals and they germinate readily. For this reason, Chinese fan palms are considered to be potentially invasive in central and south Florida. Compared to most palm species, Chinese fan palms exhibit few nutritional deficiencies. Potassium (K) deficiency, which causes extensive leaflet tip necrosis on the oldest leaves, is fairly common. Regular fertilization with a controlled release 8-2-12 palm maintenance fertilizer will gradually eliminate this problem and prevent its recurrence. When trimming Chinese fan palms, it is important to remove only completely dead leaves. Half-dead, K-deficient older leaves should not be removed, as these serve as a supplementary source of potassium to the palm. Chinese fan palms, when free of K deficiency, should have a full, round 360° crown of green leaves. If the green portion of the crown is less than 360°, this is indicative of K deficiency. Completely dead leaves at the bottom of the crown will tightly persist for a year or longer before falling and will have to be cut off manually. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st365