Machado Palm

Machado Palm (Borassodendron machadonis) is a rare Southeast Asian fan palm, grown for enormous deeply divided leaves held on a single clean trunk. In Australian gardens it is slow, usually settling around 6m tall and 4m wide rather than the 20m it reaches in Malaysian rainforest. For a tropical garden that already has the common palms, this is the one people stop and ask about.

Why you'll love it

• Leaves on a different scale. Broad fan leaves split into deep segments and can span several metres, giving an architectural shape no small palm matches.
• Genuinely rare. It is seldom seen in cultivation here, so it reads as a collector's plant rather than another row of golden canes.
• Non-invasive roots. The root system stays contained, so it can be planted near paving, paths and pool surrounds without lifting them.
• Slow and predictable. It holds its scale in a courtyard for years instead of outgrowing the space.

Where it works best

Feature planting. This is a specimen palm. Give it an open position with light behind it and room for the leaves to spread, and let it stand alone rather than compete in a mixed bed.

Poolside. Non-invasive roots mean it can sit close to a pool shell or coping, and a fan palm drops whole leaves rather than a constant fine litter, which is easier on a filter.

Sheltered tropical gardens. Under high canopy or against a warm wall it gets the humidity and wind protection that keep the big leaves intact.

Growing Machado Palm in Australia

Position and climate. This is a tropical and subtropical palm and it is frost tender, so it is not a plant for cool temperate, Mediterranean or inland frost districts. Full sun suits established plants in humid gardens, while young palms appreciate dappled shade for the first few years.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil enriched with compost. It will not tolerate waterlogging, so raise the planting position on heavy clay and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Consistent moisture is what drives leaf size. Water deeply twice a week through the warm months, more in dry heat, and less over winter. Apply a controlled release palm fertiliser in spring and again in late summer.

Pruning. Remove only fully brown fronds, cutting close to the trunk. Never trim green leaves to tidy it up, as a palm draws nutrients from older fronds and a stripped crown sets it back badly.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow this palm in two sizes: a 500mm pot and a 110L. The 500mm plant is an established juvenile with several leaves and no visible trunk yet. The 110L is a much larger specimen with real presence on planting day, and it is heavy, so arrange help and dig the hole before it arrives.

Palms are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Some leaf tearing and tip browning in transit is normal and grows out with the next frond. Expect several months before new growth appears. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• An overview of palm tree varieties
• Browse the full palm tree range
• Choosing plants for a poolside garden
• Compare other poolside planting

Common questions

How big will it get in a garden?

Around 6m tall and 4m wide over many years. The 20m figure quoted for this species applies to rainforest specimens in habitat, not to cultivated palms here.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and needs a tropical or subtropical position. In cooler gardens it would need a heated glasshouse, which puts it out of reach for most people.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly. Expect a small number of new fronds each year rather than rapid height. Consistent water, warmth and feeding through summer make the most difference.

Is it safe to plant near a pool?

Yes. The roots are non-invasive, so it can sit close to coping and paving, and shed fronds come away whole rather than as fine litter through the filter.