Magnificent Johannesteijsmannia

The Magnificent Johannesteijsmannia (Johannesteijsmannia magnifica) is a collector's palm with no trunk at all. Undivided diamond shaped leaves rise straight from the ground on short stalks, forming a rosette about 2.5m tall and 3m across, each leaf silver backed and pleated like a folded fan. It comes from the rainforest floor of Peninsular Malaysia, and wants deep shade, still air and constant humidity.

Why you'll love it

• Leaves unlike any other palm. Single undivided diamonds up to head height, silver underneath and pleated.
• No trunk, no height problem. The rosette holds at about 2.5m and spreads to 3m.
• It takes the position nothing else will. Deep shade under a canopy, too dark for other feature plants.
• Moisture is not a risk. Unusually for a palm it tolerates wet feet.
• Genuinely rare. Seldom offered in Australia.

Where it works best

Deep shade understorey planting. Set it beneath canopy trees or on the shaded southern side of a building, allowing at least 3m of clear ground for the leaf spread.

Feature planting. A single plant at the end of a shaded path, lit from behind, shows the silver leaf backs.

Pots and containers. Outside the tropics a large container is the practical route: a shadehouse, glasshouse or covered courtyard where humidity and temperature stay steady.

Growing Magnificent Johannesteijsmannia in Australia

Position and climate. Deep shade, and shelter from wind above all. The huge undivided leaves shred in a breeze and never recover, so an exposed position ruins the plant. It is tropical only and frost tender: far north Queensland and the wet tropics outdoors, a heated glasshouse or conservatory anywhere else.

Soil. Rich, deep and high in organic matter, like rainforest leaf litter. Work compost and aged manure through the hole and mulch heavily. Damp ground is fine, stagnant water over compacted clay is not.

Water and feed. Keep the soil consistently moist year round and mist through hot dry spells. Feed a slow release palm fertiliser in early spring and mid summer at half the label rate.

Pruning. None. Remove dead leaves at the base of the stalk. Never cut a healthy leaf, because the plant has one growing point and replaces them slowly.

What to expect when it arrives

Offered in one size, a 70mm by 180mm tube: a young seedling with two or three small leaves. This is a long project. Expect several years in a pot before planting out, and a decade or more before the rosette reaches full size. It is one of the slowest palms we grow.

Seedlings travel well, though leaves may crease in transit. Pot it up into a shaded, humid spot and leave it undisturbed for a few months. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our exotic and rare plant range.
• See the wider palms, ferns and tropical collection.
• Compare other plants for full shade.
• Read our overview of palm tree varieties.

Common questions

Can I grow it outside the tropics?

Not in open ground. It is frost tender and needs constant warmth and humidity, so outside far north Queensland it belongs in a heated glasshouse or conservatory.

How fast does it grow?

Very slowly. A tube seedling takes years to make an impressive leaf, and a decade or more to fill its 3m spread.

Why do the leaves tear?

Wind. Each leaf is a single undivided blade with nothing to dissipate a gust, and once torn it stays torn. Shelter matters more than anything else.