Small Fruited Palm

The Small Fruited Palm (Ptychosperma microcarpum) is a slender clumping palm from northern Australia that suits the narrow spaces most palms outgrow. It reaches about 6m tall but only 2.5m across, with several fine trunks rising from one base and a light, arching crown. The roots are non-invasive, so it can sit close to paving, pools and walls.

Why you'll love it

• Tall without taking the yard. Around 6m of height in a 2.5m footprint, which is what makes it work in a side garden.
• Multiple trunks from day one. It clumps rather than growing as a single stem, so even a young plant has layered form, not one bare pole.
• Safe near hard surfaces. Non-invasive roots and no heavy frond drop, which is why it is a standard choice around pools.
• A native that feeds birds. Cream flower sprays are followed by small fruit that native birds work through in late summer.

Where it works best

Poolside. Salt tolerant, heat tolerant and root safe near coping, with fronds fine enough that leaf litter stays manageable. Set it back about 1m from the water's edge.

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart for a clumped screen along a boundary. The cover sits high rather than low, so it blocks a second storey window without losing light at ground level.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 600mm or wider holds it for years and keeps it nearer 3m. Give it shelter from strong wind, which tears the fine leaflets.

Growing small fruited palm in Australia

Position and climate. This is a tropical and subtropical palm, and it is frost tender, so it is not a choice for cool temperate or frost prone gardens. Filtered light or morning sun suits it best. Young plants scorch in harsh all day sun, and all sizes want shelter from hot wind.

Soil. Rich, free draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Dig compost through the bed and mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunks. It will not tolerate waterlogging.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through the first two summers, watering two or three times a week in hot weather. A controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and mid summer prevents the yellowing that comes from a lack of magnesium and potassium.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Remove old fronds once they have browned off, cutting close to the trunk. Never trim green fronds: the palm draws nutrients back out of them first.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are grown: 300mm and 400mm pots. The 300mm plants are young multi stemmed clumps, usually under a metre, and the sensible choice for a run of screening. The 400mm plants arrive with real height and a formed crown.

Palms travel with their fronds tied, and some tip browning after transit is normal. Give it a sheltered, lightly shaded spot for a fortnight before planting out. Growth is moderate, so expect a new frond every few weeks in warm weather and little movement over winter. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, plus our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare varieties in our guide to palm tree varieties.
• Browse the full palm tree range.
• See other plants for poolside gardens.
• Find alternatives in tall and narrow screening plants.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Space the clumps 1.5m apart. Any closer and the crowns compete for light, which thins the screen instead of thickening it.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Not outdoors. It is frost tender and needs tropical or subtropical warmth, so in cooler southern cities it is only viable in a well lit indoor space.

Do the roots threaten pipes or paving?

No. The root system is fibrous and non-invasive, which is why it is used in narrow beds and around pool surrounds. Allow about 1m of clearance as good practice.