Hurricane Palm

Hurricane Palm (Dictyosperma album) earns its name honestly: it holds together in wind that shreds other feather palms. It grows to around 10m tall with a crown about 3.5m across, on a single slim trunk that stays clean without trimming. For a coastal block or a poolside courtyard in the tropics and subtropics, it is one of the most elegant palms you can plant.

Why you'll love it

• Built for wind. The fronds shed and refold rather than tearing, which is why it is planted through cyclone country and on exposed beachfront blocks.
• Tall and narrow. At around 10m by 3.5m it gives real height without a wide canopy, so it fits a side garden or a narrow courtyard.
• Salt tolerant. Salt laden wind and sandy coastal soil suit it, and it holds good colour where other palms brown off.
• Self cleaning and low maintenance. Old fronds drop away cleanly on their own, so there is no annual climb to tidy the crown.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single palm makes a strong vertical statement in a courtyard, an entry garden or beside a two storey wall where the crown finishes above the roofline.

Poolside. The trunk is slim, the litter is minimal and the roots are not invasive, which makes it a sound choice near paving and pool shells.

Driveways, avenues and coastal gardens. Spaced 4m to 5m apart, a matched row reads as a formal avenue. On a beachfront block it takes the salt and wind that burn softer palms.

Growing Hurricane Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun once established, and heat and humidity are welcome. This is a tropical and subtropical palm only. It is frost tender, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and southern gardens that drop below freezing are out. In marginal areas use a warm sheltered pocket and accept the risk.

Soil. Free draining soil with organic matter through it. Sandy coastal soils are ideal. On clay, plant on a raised mound so water moves away from the root plate, and mulch 75mm deep clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers, then reduce. Feed with a palm specific fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer. Palms are heavy feeders, and yellowing fronds usually mean a nutrient shortfall rather than disease.

Pruning. Very little needed. Old fronds shed themselves; cut off any that hang on, but never remove green fronds, which weakens the crown and slows growth.

What to expect when it arrives

This palm is supplied in a 160L pot, which is advanced stock: an established specimen with a formed trunk and a full crown, so it delivers height on the day it goes in the ground. Plan the position and dig the hole before it arrives, because it takes two people to move.

Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and plants are delivered Australia wide,. Some frond tip burn after transit is normal and grows out. Expect a settling period of about two months, then steady growth through the warm season. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our overview of palm tree varieties.
• Browse the full palm tree range.
• Compare large palms for instant impact.
• See other plants for poolside gardens.

Common questions

How far from a house or pool should I plant it?

Allow about 2m from a wall or pool edge so the crown has room and the trunk is not crowded. The roots are fibrous and non invasive, so it is a safer palm than most near paving.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and best kept to tropical and subtropical gardens. Cold southern and inland gardens should choose a hardier palm instead.

How fast does it grow?

It is quick for a feather palm in warm conditions, particularly once the roots are established. Growth slows noticeably in cooler or drier seasons and in poor soil.