This palm is thought to be native to central and eastern China but has been in cultivation for so long in that country that its exact origin is unknown. It has been in cultivation in China and Japan for thousands of years. This palm is grown for its strong leaf fibres, used for making ropes, sacks and other coarse cloth where strength is important. The name honours Robert Fortune a 19th century Scottish explorer and plant collector (who also established the tea plantations in India and Sri Lanka).

It grows to 15m on a single stem 20-30 cm in diameter. The trunk is very rough covered with the remains of the old woody leaf bases and the dark brown fibres associated with them. The leaves are dark green on both surfaces, 1m in diameter and are born on 50-75 cm long stalks (petioles). The flowers are yellowish about 5 mm across borne in branched panicles up to 2 m long, and the following fruits are blue-black about 1 cm in diameter.

The Chusan Palm is one of the hardiest palms in the world and readily grows in Great Britain.