Carnarvon Gorge Palm

The Carnarvon Gorge Palm (Livistona nitida) is an Australian fan palm from the sandstone gorges of central Queensland, reaching around 10m tall and 4m wide over a long life. Glossy fan shaped fronds sit above a slim single trunk, so it delivers real height from a footprint narrow enough for a courtyard. It grows slowly, which is exactly why buying an advanced plant is worth it.

Why you'll love it

• Height without width. A 4m spread at 10m tall means vertical impact in gardens where a spreading tree would never fit.
• Wet feet and drought both tolerated. It handles soggy ground and dry spells alike, which is rare in one plant.
• An Australian native with presence. Clean trunk, glossy fans and a naturally tidy outline, native to eastern Australia rather than imported.
• Birds work the flowers and fruit. Cream flower sprays are followed by fruit that local birds take through the season.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One palm in a courtyard, a lightwell or beside an entry does the whole job. The single trunk keeps the ground plane open for underplanting.

Poolside. Fronds shed whole and occasionally rather than dropping small litter every day, so pool skimmers cope. Heat tolerance also means it takes reflected warmth off paving.

Driveways and avenues. Space palms 4m to 5m apart for an even rhythm along a drive. Matched heights matter more than exact spacing with palms, so buy them together.

Growing Carnarvon Gorge Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun once established, and it will take heat readily. This is a palm for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It tolerates light frost only, so cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens will damage the fronds.

Soil. Undemanding, and unusually flexible about moisture: it will sit in ground that stays damp, and equally cope once dry. Improve the backfill with compost and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first two summers to establish the root system, then reduce as it becomes drought tolerant. A slow release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the fronds green rather than yellowing.

Pruning. Remove only fully browned fronds, cutting close to the trunk. Stripping green fronds to tidy the look weakens the palm, and the growing point at the crown must never be cut.

What to expect when it arrives

This palm is supplied in a 160L pot, which for a species this slow represents many years in the growing yard. You are buying an established plant with a formed trunk and a full crown, not something that needs a decade to become presentable.

A palm this size is heavy, so it is freighted at cost as advanced and large stock, and you will want help on site to move and plant it. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect a settling period of a few months before new fronds push, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to palm tree varieties
• Browse the full palm range
• Plants suited to poolside gardens
• Australian native trees

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly, and it is slow to form a trunk in particular. The 10m figure is a long term one, so treat an advanced plant as the way to get height rather than waiting for it.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only. An occasional light frost on an established palm is survivable, but repeated or hard frosts will burn the fronds, so cold inland and southern gardens are not suitable.

Can I plant it close to a pool?

Yes. It is one of the better poolside palms because it sheds whole fronds occasionally rather than shedding small litter constantly, and it tolerates the heat radiating off paving.

Does it need a lot of water?

Not once established, though it will happily take more. Water it well for the first two summers, after which it is drought tolerant and equally content in ground that stays damp.