Baptist's Pandanus

Baptist's Pandanus (Pandanus baptistii) gives you the tropical rosette shape without the spines. It grows to about 2.5m tall and 2m wide, far smaller than the coastal screw pines, and every strappy leaf is edged and striped in gold against blue green. Smooth margins let it sit beside a path or a pool where a thorny pandanus would be a hazard.

Why you'll love it

• Thornless leaves. Nothing to catch skin or clothing, which is why it is used in courtyards and around pools.
• Gold striped foliage all year. The variegation is stable and holds in full sun, so the plant carries colour without flowering.
• A manageable size. At 2.5m by 2m it suits a small courtyard rather than taking over the garden.
• Salt, heat and dry all handled. Once established it takes coastal exposure, humidity and dry spells.

Where it works best

Poolside. Smooth leaves mean no scratches on the way past, the plant tolerates splashed water and salt, and leaf drop is slow and easy to pick up.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A 500mm or wider pot holds one for years, and container growing keeps it nearer 1.5m to 2m. It is also how to grow it in a cooler garden, moving the pot under cover in winter.

Feature planting in coastal gardens. A single plant is a strong architectural shape against a rendered wall, and it stands up to salt wind.

Growing Baptist's Pandanus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the brightest variegation, and part shade works with softer colour. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant only. It is frost tender, so in cool southern and inland gardens grow it in a sheltered pot or choose something else.

Soil. Free draining, and sandy soils suit it well. Work compost through the planting hole, then mulch 50mm deep, kept back from the crown so water does not collect there.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then taper to occasional deep soaks. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer keeps the striping strong, especially in a pot.

Pruning. None required. Cut older leaves off flush with the stem as they brown at the base. That is normal ageing.

What to expect when it arrives

The 200mm pots come in packs of six and are young plants, good value for a run along a pool fence. The 300mm is the usual middle choice for a feature pot. The 45L and 200L sizes arrive as established specimens.

Strappy foliage travels well, though a few bent leaf tips after transit are normal. Growth is moderate, so expect a fuller plant by the end of the first warm season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the top pandanus varieties for Australian gardens.
• Read about using pandanus as a feature tree.
• Browse the poolside planting range.
• See more variegated plants.

Common questions

Does it have spines like other pandanus?

No, and that is the point of this one. The leaf margins are smooth, which makes it safe beside paths, pool edges and seating where the common screw pines are not.

Will it survive a cold winter?

It is frost tender, so a cold inland or southern garden will damage it. Grow it in a pot you can shift under a verandah, or keep it indoors in a bright spot over winter.

Can I keep it smaller by pruning?

Not in the way you can with a shrub. The rosette grows from a single crown, so cutting the top off removes the shape rather than reducing the height. If you need it smaller, grow it in a 500mm pot, which holds it nearer 1.5m to 2m instead of 2.5m by 2m in open ground.