Peacock Licuala

Peacock Licuala (Licuala sp. Kalimantan) is a rare Bornean fan palm with broad, deeply pleated, almost circular fronds. It is small by palm standards, reaching about 2.5m tall and 2m wide after many years. This is a collector's palm: shade loving, warmth loving, and slow enough that a single plant stays a feature rather than a problem.

Why you'll love it

• Fronds like nothing else. Wide pleated fans give a texture no other palm in the range can match.
• Small and slow. At around 2.5m by 2m eventually, it fits a courtyard, an entry bed or a large indoor pot.
• Pet friendly. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, which matters for a plant that often ends up indoors at floor level.
• Roots that stay put, feet that stay wet. The root system is non-invasive, and unusually for a palm it copes with damp ground.

Where it works best

Shaded feature planting. Understorey is its natural home, so plant it beneath established canopy or on the shaded side of a wall where it gets warmth without direct sun.

Indoors and in pots. A bright room set back from the window works well, as does a large container on a sheltered patio. Use a pot at least 400mm wide and keep the mix damp.

Poolside. Non-invasive roots and a tolerance for damp soil make it a good choice for a shaded pool corner, provided it is out of the wind.

Growing Peacock Licuala in Australia

Position and climate. Tropical and subtropical gardens only, in shade or dappled light. It is frost tender and needs constant warmth, so anywhere with a genuine winter it belongs in a sheltered indoor position rather than open ground. Keep it out of wind: the large fans tear easily and a torn frond never repairs.

Soil. Rich, organic and moisture retentive. Work compost through the planting hole, mulch generously and do not let it dry out. It handles wet soil far better than dry soil.

Water and feed. Water often enough that the mix never dries right through, which in a pot can mean two or three times a week in summer. Feed lightly with a controlled release palm fertiliser in spring and again in summer.

Pruning. Remove fronds only once they have fully browned. Growth is so slow that every frond counts.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 50mm tubes. That is small, and worth saying plainly: you are buying a young seedling with two or three juvenile fans, not a specimen. The price reflects how rare and how slow this palm is, not its size on arrival.

Plan in years rather than seasons. Pot it up gradually instead of moving it straight into a large container, and expect a handful of new fronds each year. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the exotic and rare plant range
• More palms, ferns and tropical plants
• Designing a tropical garden that stays lush
• Other plants for full shade

Common questions

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes, and for most Australian gardeners that is the safest option. Give it a warm room with bright indirect light, keep the mix evenly damp, and avoid draughts and air conditioning vents.

How slow is slow?

Very. Expect a few new fronds a year and a decade or more before it looks like a mature palm. Buy it because you want that plant eventually, not because you need cover now.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can sit at floor level in a home with pets.

Why do the fronds split or tear?

Wind is almost always the cause. The broad fans have no natural fold lines to shed a gust, so shelter matters more here than it would for a feather palm.