Triangle Palm

Triangle Palm (Dypsis decaryi) earns its place on the trunk alone. The fronds emerge in three vertical ranks rather than a spiral, so the base of the crown forms a clean three sided column that reads as architecture from any angle. It grows to around 7m tall with a crown close to 4m across, and its roots are non invasive, which is why it turns up beside pools and paving far more often than palms of a similar size.

Why you'll love it

• A trunk with real geometry. Three ranked frond bases build a triangular column. No other common palm looks like it.
• Non invasive roots. Safe to plant near pool surrounds, paths and paved edges without lifting them later.
• Heat, dry and salt. Drought tolerant once established and salt tolerant on the coast, and the stiff fronds hold their shape in wind rather than shredding.
• Very little upkeep. No trimming beyond removing a spent frond once or twice a year.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single palm in a lawn, a courtyard or a gravel bed is the strongest way to use it. Uplighting from two sides shows the triangular base off properly at night.

Poolside. Non invasive roots, and a crown that sheds whole fronds occasionally rather than a constant drift of small leaves, make it an easier pool neighbour than most shade trees.

Driveways and coastal gardens. Space matched plants at least 4m apart, or 5m for clearly separated crowns, with the same clearance from a wall or fence.

Growing Triangle Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun all day produces the tight symmetrical crown. This is a frost tender palm suited to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. Cool temperate and frost prone inland districts should treat it as a container plant that moves under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining above all else. Sandy loam is ideal, and on clay it needs a raised mound with coarse organic matter worked through. Wet feet over winter is the most common way this palm is lost.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers while the root system builds, then step back. A slow release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in midsummer keeps the fronds deep green, because palm blends carry the potassium and magnesium that prevent yellowing on older fronds.

Grooming. Remove fronds only once they have browned right off. Stripping green fronds to tidy the trunk starves the palm and thins the crown.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes. The 200mm pack of six and the 300mm pots are young palms with a short trunk and a handful of fronds, the value option for a group or an avenue if you can wait. The 45L and 100L sizes arrive as established palms with visible trunk character and real presence on day one.

Palms are packed to travel upright with the crown protected and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a settling month, then a new frond in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to palm varieties and how to choose one
• Browse the full palm range
• Plants that suit a pool surround
• Bottle Palm, a smaller sculptural alternative

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Steady rather than quick. In a warm garden with sun and summer water, expect two to four new fronds a year and visible trunk after the first few seasons. Reaching 7m takes many years.

Can it take frost?

No. It is frost tender, so it belongs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. In colder areas grow it in a large pot that can be moved somewhere sheltered before winter.

How much room does it need?

The crown spreads close to 4m, wider than the trunk suggests, so give it a 4m circle clear of gutters, eaves and walls. Beside a pool, allow about 2m from the water so the fronds are not hanging over the edge.