Fortune's keteleeria Plant Care

Fortune's keteleeria (Keteleeria fortunei) belongs to the Pinaceae family within the Keteleeria genus. Fortune's keteleeria is native to the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and Zhejiang. Fortune's keteleeria is also known as Chinese keteleeria.

Fortune's keteleeria displays a tall, conical tree growth habit, reaching up to 60 ft tall with a spread of approximately 20 ft. Fortune's keteleeria produces small, inconspicuous male and female cones.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Fortune's keteleeria every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Fortune's keteleeria thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Keteleeria fortunei tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Fortune's keteleeria prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, acidic soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Fortune's keteleeria to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Fortune's keteleeria every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining, acidic soil with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Fortune's keteleeria is suited to USDA Zone 8a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Fortune's keteleeria can spread to about 20 ft (6.1 m) and reach about 60 ft (18 m) tall. Space plants about 20 ft (6.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Fortune's keteleeria needs little pruning. Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter or early spring.

Don't cut back into old, bare wood: conifers in the pine family rarely sprout new growth from it. To keep a denser shape, trim only the soft new shoots in late spring.

Fortune's keteleeria is hardy down to USDA zone 8a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes — evergreens keep losing water through their needles all winter, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Fortune's keteleeria can be propagated through seeds, grafting.

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Fortune's keteleeria is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, pine needle scale. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Fortune's keteleeria grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Fortune's keteleeria is native to the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and Zhejiang.