Alexander Palm

The Alexander Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) is the fastest way to put a clean tropical canopy over a warm climate garden. This far north Queensland native reaches about 10m in ten to fifteen years, on a slim grey trunk with a crown around 3m across. Its roots are non invasive, so it can sit close to pool coping, a driveway or a fence.

Why you'll love it

• Fast, and honestly fast. With water and warmth it puts on real height every year, so you get a tropical garden now rather than in a decade.
• Safe near hard surfaces. The root system is fibrous and non invasive, so paving, pipes and pool shells are not at risk.
• Built for the coast. Salt, wind and heat tolerant, and it copes with wet feet, so it handles the damp low corner most trees refuse.
• Native, bird attracting and pet safe. Cream flower sprays give way to red fruit for lorikeets, and it is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Poolside. The classic use. A slim trunk takes almost nothing from the paving and the canopy sits well above the water. Mature fronds are heavy and drop whole, so keep the crown over garden rather than pool.

Groves and feature planting. Plant 2m apart in an odd numbered group. Palms grouped tightly grow with slightly different vigour, which is what makes a grove look natural.

Driveways and screening. A matched run either side of a drive gives height without width. At 2m spacing it blocks an upper storey window; underplant with shrubs for privacy at fence height.

Growing the Alexander Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with young palms preferring shelter for the first summer. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, from Cairns and Brisbane to coastal Sydney and Perth. It is frost tender, so the tablelands, Canberra and Melbourne are outside its range.

Soil and water. It wants rich, organic soil and steady moisture, and unlike most palms it tolerates wet feet. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers, then through dry spells outside the wet tropics.

Feeding. Palms are hungry. A controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in midsummer keeps the fronds deep green. Yellowing older fronds usually means magnesium or potassium is short rather than water.

Maintenance. It is self cleaning, so spent fronds drop by themselves and there is no climbing or sawing. Never cut into the single growing point at the top, because a palm cannot reshoot from it.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in twelve sizes, from tube and 140mm through 200mm, 250mm, 300mm and 400mm pots to 45L, 75L, 90L, 100L, 200L and 350L. Tube and the small pot packs suit a grove or a screen, since small stock establishes fastest. The 45L to 100L sizes already carry a trunk and a full crown.

Plants travel upright and 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 quiet few weeks while the roots take hold, then a new frond every few weeks through the warm season. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to choose the right palm for your garden
• Browse the full palm range
• More plants suited to poolside planting
• Salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens

Common questions

How close to a pool can I plant it?

The roots are non invasive, so the trunk can sit within a metre of the coping. Set it back far enough that the mature crown hangs over garden rather than water, because the fronds are heavy.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and best kept to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. In a marginal spot, plant it against a north facing wall with overhead tree cover.

Do I need to prune the old fronds?

No. It sheds them itself. Pulling on a frond that is not ready can tear the trunk, so let it fall and collect it from the ground.