Foxtail Palm

The Foxtail Palm is the feature palm most Australian gardens end up asking for. Named for the plumed fronds arching off a smooth grey trunk, Wodyetia bifurcata reaches around 10m with a canopy roughly 4m across. It grows fast for a palm, sheds its own spent fronds, and its fibrous roots sit safely beside paving and pool shells.

Why you'll love it

• A canopy within a few seasons. A fast growing palm, not one you plant and wait a decade for.
• It cleans up after itself. Old fronds detach and drop away whole, leaving a clean trunk. No ladder, no pruning saw.
• Safe near hard surfaces. Palm roots are fine and fibrous, so a Foxtail will not lift pavers or crack a pool shell.
• An Australian native. From Cape Melville in far north Queensland, so heat, humidity and salt-laden coastal wind all suit it. Cream flowers draw birds.
• Low maintenance once established. Two feeds a year and a deep drink in a dry spell.

Where it works best

Poolside. Non-invasive roots pose no risk to a pool shell, paving or pipework, and fronds drop whole rather than shredding into the water. Allow 2m from the coping.

Driveways and avenues. Plant at 3m to 4m spacing so the crowns meet overhead without crowding, since each palm holds about 4m of canopy.

Feature and coastal planting. A single specimen in lawn, or a group of three at staggered heights, is the classic use. Salt tolerance suits front-line coastal gardens.

Growing Foxtail Palms in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and is frost tender, so in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and cold inland districts it needs your warmest sheltered spot, or a pot that can move under cover in winter. A hard frost burns the fronds.

Soil and planting. Free draining soil matters most. Sandy and loamy soils suit it as they are; in heavy clay, plant on a raised mound 200mm to 300mm above the surrounding level and improve the backfill with compost and coarse sand.

Water and feeding. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then taper to a weekly soak; after about twelve months it is genuinely drought tolerant. Feed a palm fertiliser with magnesium and potassium in early spring and mid summer.

Pruning. None needed, and never cut green fronds off a palm; it has only one growing point.

What to expect when it arrives

Six sizes are available, from 250mm and 300mm pots through 400mm and 45L up to advanced 100L and 300L stock. Smaller pots hold young palms with no clear trunk yet, the economical way to plant a group. The 45L and larger sizes have a formed trunk and read as a feature the day they go in.

Fronds are tied in for transit and may look folded or show a little tip burn, which grows out with the next frond. Plant within a few days and expect four to six weeks before new growth shows.

Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every order is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full Foxtail Palm growing guide for planting detail.
• Browse our wider palm range for clumping and cold-hardier options.
• Compare it against other feature trees if you want shade too.

Common questions

How fast does a Foxtail Palm grow?

Faster than most feature palms. Expect visible height each year and a full crown within two to three seasons in tropical and subtropical gardens, and slower but steady growth in warm temperate areas.

Can I grow one in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Only with care, because it is frost tender. Give it your most sheltered position and free draining soil, or keep it in a large container that can be moved out of frost.

Is it safe for pets?

The palm itself is not a concern, but the fruit is not considered pet safe. If your dog chews whatever lands on the lawn, cut the fruit stalks off before they ripen.