Manambe Palm

Manambe Palm (Dypsis rivularis) is a Madagascan feather palm for gardens that need height without bulk. It lifts to around 8m over many years and spreads only about 3m, holding a tidy crown of arching fronds. The roots are non-invasive, so it can sit close to paving and pool coping.

Why you'll love it

• Tall, but narrow. At roughly 8m by 3m it reads as a real palm without taking over a courtyard.
• Roots that behave. The root system is non-invasive, so it is one of the safer palms to plant near paths and pool surrounds.
• Wind and humidity are no trouble. It is wind tolerant and comfortable in humid air, so breezy patios do not shred the crown.
• Almost no maintenance. There is nothing to prune beyond removing spent fronds once a year.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single palm in a lawn or bed gives a vertical line no shrub can match, and a matched pair suits an entry.

Poolside. Non-invasive roots and whole fronds rather than constant fine litter make it a sensible pool plant. Set it back so mature fronds clear the water.

Pots and containers. It is slow enough to hold in a pot for years. Use a container at least 500mm wide with free drainage.

Growing Manambe Palm in Australia

Position and climate. A tropical, subtropical and warm temperate palm, happiest in partial shade or filtered light. It is frost tender, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and frosty southern gardens suit it only as a potted plant that can move under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Dig compost through the backfill, then mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the base.

Water and feed. Deep soakings twice a week through the first two summers, then a good drink in dry spells rather than a fixed schedule. Feed a controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and mid summer.

Pruning. Remove old fronds only once they have browned off completely, because a palm draws nutrients back out of a dying frond. Never cut into the crown.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in 300mm and 400mm pots. The 300mm plants are juveniles, usually knee to waist high with a handful of fronds. The 400mm plants are a year or two further along and show the crown shape you are buying it for.

Palms travel well because the growing point sits protected in the crown, though a bruised outer frond is normal. Growth is slow: expect the first year to be root work, then steady frond production from the second warm season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• An overview of palm varieties for Australian gardens
• Browse the full palm tree range
• Trees with non-invasive roots
• Plants for poolside gardens

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly. Expect a few fronds a year in a warm, well watered garden, and a decade or more before it approaches full height.

Can I grow it in a cold climate?

Not in the ground. It is frost tender, so anywhere that regularly drops below freezing will burn the fronds. A large pot moved to a bright, sheltered spot over winter is the workaround.

Is it safe to plant near a pool or paving?

Yes. The roots are non-invasive, unusual for a palm of this height, so it does not lift pavers or crack coping. Allow clearance for the mature spread of about 3m.

Does it need full sun?

No. Partial shade or filtered light suits it, which makes it useful under an existing canopy. Deep shade slows it further.