Queensland Black Palm

Queensland Black Palm (Normanbya normanbyi) is one of Australia's finest native feature palms and among the least planted. A slender dark trunk carries a crown of soft, plumose fronds, and it settles at around 8m over ten to fifteen years on a crown about 3m across. The roots are non-invasive, so it can sit close to paving or a pool.

Why you'll love it

• A crown unlike any other palm. Fine leaflets set at different angles, so the canopy looks layered rather than flat.
• Australian native. From lowland rainforest in far north Queensland, hence the taste for warmth and humidity.
• Non-invasive roots. Safe near a pool surround, a path or services, where a large tree would not be.
• Bird attracting. Cream flowers are followed by fruit that rainforest birds work through.
• It handles damp ground. A low corner that stays soggy after rain suits it.

Where it works best

Poolside. It can go close to the coping, and a palm drops a whole frond occasionally rather than shedding leaves constantly, which is easier around water.

Driveways and avenues. Space plants 3m to 4m apart. At that spacing the crowns stay separate and each trunk reads clearly.

Feature planting and pots. A single specimen against a dark wall is enough on its own. A pot 500mm or wider holds a young plant for several years before it wants the ground.

Growing Queensland Black Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Tropical and subtropical gardens only. It is frost tender and wants warmth, humidity and shelter from wind. Young plants prefer dappled shade and take full sun as they gain height.

Soil. Deep, rich and moisture retentive. Dig compost through the bed, mulch 75mm thick and keep it clear of the trunk. Unusually for a palm it tolerates damp ground, so heavy soils work.

Water and feed. A high water palm. Keep it moist year round, especially through the first two summers. Feed a palm specific fertiliser three times through the warm months; potassium and magnesium shortages show in the older fronds first.

Pruning. Almost none. Old fronds brown and drop cleanly on their own. Never remove green fronds to tidy it; a palm has one growing point and feeds from the crown it has.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in two sizes, a 400mm pot and an advanced 110L specimen. The 400mm plant is a young palm with a short trunk forming and a few fronds, the sensible choice if you are planting several. The 110L has real height on day one for a single feature.

Palms travel with the fronds tied up and may arrive with a creased or browned tip. That is transit marking, not a fault. Expect a season of establishment before growth picks up. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, 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
• Compare plants suited to poolside gardens
• Trees and palms with non-invasive roots

Common questions

How tall does it get in a garden?

Around 8m over ten to fifteen years. It reaches roughly 18m in far north Queensland rainforest, where canopy competition drives it up.

Will it grow in Sydney or Melbourne?

Not reliably. It is frost tender, so cooler cities need a very sheltered warm microclimate, and even then it is a gamble.

Can I plant it close to a pool?

Yes, that is the main use for it. Keep it back far enough that fronds do not drop into the water.

Does it need protection from wind?

It does. The fine leaflets tear in exposed positions, so plant where a fence, a wall or larger trees take the edge off.