Golden Cane Palm

Golden Cane Palm (Dypsis lutescens) is the clumping palm most Australians picture when they think of a tropical screen. Garden clumps settle at around 6m tall and 3m wide, sending up a thicket of slim golden canes topped with arching fronds, and unlike a solitary palm they keep filling in from the base. It is fast, it holds in a pot for years, and it is safe around cats and dogs. Planted 1.5m apart it makes a soft privacy screen rather than a hard wall.

Why you'll love it

• A screen that fills from the ground. New canes keep pushing up from the clump, so the base stays furnished instead of lifting into bare trunks.
• Pet friendly. Non toxic to cats and dogs, which matters along a fence line the dog patrols or in a pot on a balcony.
• Poolside without the mess. Salt and splash tolerant, no heavy fruit drop, and it does not shed constantly into the water.
• Fast for a palm. With warmth, water and feed a clump gains real height each season, so a screen is a two to three year project.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row, about a metre off the fence so each clump can widen. Expect a filtered green screen rather than a solid barrier.

Poolside and entertaining areas. The clumping habit fits a corner where a spreading tree could not, and the fronds throw dappled shade over paving without much litter.

Pots and indoors. A 500mm or larger pot holds a clump for years, and in a bright room away from direct glass it is a forgiving indoor palm.

Growing the Golden Cane Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest cane colour, part shade deeper green fronds. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate palm and it is frost tender, so cold inland and frosty southern gardens need it potted and moved under cover, or grown indoors.

Soil. Free draining and rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed before planting and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the canes.

Water and feed. This palm rewards water. Deep soak two or three times a week through the first summer, then keep it evenly moist in warm weather. Feed with a palm fertiliser in early spring and late summer.

Pruning. Cut spent fronds off at the base once they have browned completely. To reduce a clump, remove whole canes at ground level. Never cut the growing tip of a cane, because it will not reshoot.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in nine sizes. The 200mm pack of six and 250mm pack of three suit a longer screen or a mass planting, and they close on larger stock within a couple of seasons. The 300mm and 400mm are the usual pot or feature choice, while the 45L to 200L sizes arrive as established multi cane clumps.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Fronds can look tired after a long trip, and new growth follows within four to six weeks in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full palm range
• Consider the Lady Palm for shadier spots
• Shop plants suited to indoors
• Compare other screening options

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One and a half metres apart, a metre back from the fence. Each clump widens to roughly 3m, so tighter spacing crowds the canes and thins the screen.

Is it safe for pets?

Yes. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, which is why it is a common choice for family yards and balconies.

Why are the older fronds going yellow?

Usually a nutrient shortage rather than disease. Palms draw magnesium and potassium out of old fronds to feed new ones, so a palm fertiliser twice a year normally fixes it.