Coastal Screw Pine

The coastal screw pine (Pandanus tectorius var. pedunculatus) is the tree that holds a beachfront garden together when nothing else will stand the salt. It grows to about 5m tall and 4m wide, carrying spiralled strap leaves on a branched trunk propped up by a cage of aerial roots. It is an Australian native from the east coast dunes, so wind, salt spray and sand are normal conditions rather than a hardship.

Why you'll love it

• Built for the front line. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant and drought tolerant once established, so it holds up where ornamentals burn off.
• Sculpture, not just greenery. The prop roots and spiralled crown carry a courtyard on their own, and it uplights well at night.
• An east coast native. A genuine dune species, not an imported lookalike, and the fruit brings birds in.
• Very low maintenance. No pruning routine, no shaping, no feeding schedule, and it grows in soil most trees find too poor.

Where it works best

Coastal gardens. Use it on the seaward edge of a planting to shelter softer species behind, or as the single tree on a dune facing block where a conventional shade tree has no hope.

Feature planting, poolside and pots. One plant in a gravel bed or a wide entry does more than a group, and it tolerates pool splash without dropping fine litter into the water. Allow about 4m of width.

Growing coastal screw pine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. In part shade the crown opens up and loses the tight spiral that makes it worth planting. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, including humid coastal ones. It is frost tender, so cold inland and frosty southern gardens need it potted and moved under cover.

Soil and water. Free draining, and the sandier the better. On heavy clay, plant high on a mound with coarse material worked through, because sitting wet is the main way to lose one. Water weekly through the first two summers, then rarely.

Feeding and maintenance. A light native fertiliser in spring is enough. No pruning is needed; old leaves can be cut off flush at the trunk, or left for a natural look. Never cut the prop roots, because they hold the plant upright in wind.

Clearance and the leaf edges. The leaf margins and midrib carry small sharp teeth that catch skin and clothing. Plant it at least a metre back from paths and seating, wear gloves and long sleeves when you work on it, and think twice before putting one beside a play area.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 200mm multipacks, 300mm, 45L, 100L, 200L and 400L. Growth is steady rather than quick, so the size you buy largely determines the size you live with for years. The 200mm and 300mm plants are the value option, the 45L and 100L the middle ground, and the 200L and 400L already carry a formed trunk.

Plants are packed to travel upright and 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 slow first season while the roots establish, then steady growth. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse Australian native trees
• Compare plants for windbreaks and exposed sites
• More tropical foliage for a resort look
• Preparing a garden bed before planting

Common questions

How close to the beach can I plant it?

Very close. It handles direct salt spray and sand blast, which is why it is used on foreshore plantings. Give it free draining soil and full sun and it will outlast almost anything else on the block.

Are the leaves dangerous?

They are sharply toothed along the edges and will scratch, so treat them the way you would a small agave. Gloves and long sleeves for any work on the plant.

Will it grow away from the coast?

Yes, in a frost free garden with full sun and drainage. Inland heat is not a problem; cold is. Anywhere with regular frosts needs it potted and sheltered over winter.