Ivory Cane Palm

The Ivory Cane Palm (Pinanga kuhlii) is a clumping understorey palm that reaches about 4m tall and 2.5m wide, sending up slim canes with a pale, almost ivory sheath below the fronds. It is one of the better palms for a shaded courtyard or a narrow side garden, because it thickens into a clump instead of running or spreading roots wide.

Why you'll love it

• A palm for shade. It grows naturally beneath rainforest canopy, so the shaded side of a house or a covered courtyard suits it better than open sun.
• Clumping, not spreading. Multiple canes rise from one crown, giving a full look at ground level without invasive spread into paving or garden beds.
• Screening in a narrow space. At about 2.5m wide it fills a boundary strip that a fan palm or a golden cane would overwhelm.
• Little routine work. Beyond water and the odd spent frond, it asks very little through the year.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart for a clumping palm screen. The canes interleave at that spacing and give a soft green wall rather than a hard hedge line.

Poolside and feature planting. It drops little litter and holds its shape, so it suits a pool surround or a single specimen lit from below at an entry.

Pots and containers. The 400mm size settles well into a large planter on a shaded deck or a covered courtyard, where it can stay for several years.

Growing Ivory Cane Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Shade to filtered light. Full sun burns the fronds, particularly in the first two years. This is a tropical and subtropical palm only. It is frost tender, so cooler and inland districts should treat it as a sheltered patio plant in a pot rather than a landscape palm.

Soil. Rich, free draining and never allowed to dry out completely. Work compost and aged manure through the planting hole, then mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the canes.

Water and feed. This palm wants constant moisture. Water two or three times a week through summer until established, then keep it evenly damp rather than swinging between wet and dry. Feed with a controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and late summer.

Wind and grooming. It handles moving air, but hot dry wind browns the frond tips, so shelter it from westerlies. Remove only fully spent fronds; cutting green fronds weakens the clump.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a single size, a 400mm pot. That is an established plant with several canes and real presence on day one, rather than a seedling needing years of nursing. Palms this size are heavy, and are packed upright to protect the growing point.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a month of settling, then a new frond in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to choose a palm for your garden
• Browse the full palm range
• More plants for shaded positions
• Plants suited to tropical gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Plant 1.5m apart. The clumps meet at that spacing without crowding each other, and there is still room to get in and mulch or water.

Can I grow it in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Not in the ground. It is frost tender and suited to tropical and subtropical gardens only. In cooler cities it needs a warm, sheltered position in a pot, ideally under cover.

Will it grow in full sun?

It will survive, but the fronds yellow and scorch and the plant looks tired. Shade to filtered light gives the deep green colour this palm is grown for.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly. Expect a few new fronds a season with steady moisture and feeding, and several years before it approaches its mature 4m.