Hardytropicals UK

The fibre has been stripped from the trunks of Trachycarpus for maybe 1000 years in China. This fibre was woven into mats, cloaks and other garments. It has a long life and is waterproof.

Here it is more about asthetics, and this is where there are 2 disctict camps. I prefer the fibre stripped from the trunk to give a more tropical look with a swollen crownshaft and a slim trunk. The other school of thought is they look better nauturally hairy. Hardiness is not affected in the UK by fibre stripping, butt may be in more continental climates.

Leaf trimming

The best tools to remove lower leaves are a pair of large loppers, or a fine toothed junior hacksaw. Pruning saws tend to snatch and tear the fibre of the leaves not giving a good cut. Cut the leaf level with the side of the fibre on the trunk.

Fibre Stripping Tools

The only tools required for fibre stripping are a junior hacksaw, and a sharp Standley or craft knife. Extreme care should be taken when using the craft knife, always work with the blade facing away from you, and when working with both arms, keep the other arm away from the knife in case it slips.

Getting Started

The most difficult part of fibre stripping is starting the procedure off. This has to be started at the base, with the lowest petioles, which will have hardened to a woody texture, cut off with a junior hacksaw as close to the base as possible, and the remaining fibre cut away with sissors or a craft knife. Once you have enough cut away to clearly see the base of a petiole follow the procedure below.

Fibre stripping

There may be many ways to remove whole rings of petiole and fibre, but the one I use and find easiest is as follows.

Pull the petiole (leaf stalk) away from the trunk using some force. Then with a craft knife, starting to one side of the petiole slice the fibre moving the blade into the green petiole and down the centre. Keeping the pressure of pulling means the petiole will cut and split quite easily.

At the base of the petiole there is a pronounced bulge. Slice all the way down to this part while still pulling the top of the petiole out. Be careful not to slip with the knife.

Now you need to make a horizontal cut across the thickest part of the petiole. This does take quite a bit of force as the petiole is about 12 to 15mm thick. Always use the knife away from you as when it starts to cut it can move quite quickly. If you prefer make lots of more shallow cuts until the petiole is cut through

Once the base of the petiole is cut through, run the blade around the trunk cutting the fibre.Cut into the brown fibre area about an inch above the creamy trunk. This is relatively easy and once complete the fibre and petiole can be removed. Continue up the trunk removing all unwanted fibre.petiole by petiole. The trunk is a creamy white for a couple of weeks but tones down to a brown or grey colour.