Silver Star Palm

Silver Star Palm (Cryosophila warscewiczii) is a slow growing fan palm from the rainforests of Central America, with deeply divided leaves that are green above and silvery white beneath. In an Australian garden it reaches roughly 4m to 6m tall and about 2.5m across over ten to fifteen years, so it suits a courtyard where a coconut or a foxtail would be far too big. It is an understorey palm, which means shade is what it wants rather than what it tolerates.

Why you'll love it

• Silver undersides that catch the light. The pale reverse of each fan shows whenever the leaves move, which lifts a dark, shaded corner.
• Slow and predictable. It stays in scale with a courtyard for a very long time.
• A genuine shade palm. A position that never sees direct sun is exactly right.
• Rare in cultivation. Few gardens have one, and the spined trunk and silver fans make it a talking point rather than another palm.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single specimen in a shaded garden bed, lit at night from below, is the way this palm is best used. Allow 2.5m of clear width for the crown.

Pots and containers. A wide, heavy pot of 500mm or more holds it for years given its slow growth, and a container also lets you keep it in the shade it prefers.

Balconies and courtyards. Sheltered courtyards in tropical and subtropical areas suit it, since it wants warmth, humidity and shelter from wind.

One caution: the trunk carries downward pointing root spines. Keep it well away from paths, seating and play areas.

Growing Silver Star Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Part to full shade, sheltered from wind. This is a tropical and subtropical plant and it is frost tender, so cool temperate, Mediterranean and frost prone gardens need a pot that can shift under cover.

Soil. Deep, rich and free draining, with plenty of compost or leaf litter worked through. It likes soil that stays evenly moist without ever becoming boggy, so mulch generously and keep the mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the warm months and never let it dry out completely, especially in a pot. Feed a controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer. Yellowing older fronds usually mean it is hungry rather than sick.

Pruning. Remove only fully brown fronds, cutting close to the trunk with gloves on because of the spines. Green fronds should stay, since a slow palm cannot afford to lose them.

What to expect when it arrives

This palm is supplied in a 400mm pot as a juvenile plant, well rooted and already showing the silver leaf undersides, though not yet carrying a visible trunk. Given how slowly it grows, this is the practical size to start with.

Palms sulk for a few weeks after any move, so expect little to happen at first and no new frond until the weather is warm. Keep it shaded and evenly watered while it settles. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• An overview of palm tree varieties
• Compare the full palm tree collection
• Browse companions in palms, ferns and tropicals
• See more exotic and rare plants

Common questions

How big does it actually get here?

Around 4m to 6m tall and 2.5m wide over ten to fifteen years in a warm Australian garden. Habitat figures are much taller, but they do not reflect what a cultivated plant does.

Are the trunk spines dangerous?

They are sharp and point downwards, so they will catch skin and clothing. Site the palm away from paths and play areas, and wear gloves when you remove old fronds.

Can it take any sun?

Morning sun is tolerated in humid climates, but hot afternoon sun burns the fronds. Shade or filtered light gives the best colour and the healthiest plant.