Bangalow Palm

Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) is the east coast's own feature palm and one of the fastest ways to get a tropical canopy over a garden. It reaches about 10m in cultivation, with a slim grey trunk, a clean green crownshaft and a crown of arching fronds about 3.5m across. Purple flowers beneath the crownshaft ripen into bright red berries.

Why you'll love it

• Fast height without bulk. It climbs quickly but stays narrow, so it fits beside pools, paths and boundaries where a spreading tree cannot go.
• Self shedding fronds. Old fronds detach cleanly instead of hanging on, so the trunk stays smooth without ladder work.
• A native that feeds the birds. An eastern Australian rainforest palm whose berries are worked over by pigeons and other fruit eaters.
• Comfortable in wet ground. It grows naturally along creek lines, so a soggy corner is no trouble.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart: slim trunks below, overlapping crowns above, privacy from upper windows without losing garden space.

Feature groups and driveways. Plant groups of three, 1m to 1.5m between trunks, for a quick grove effect, or repeat singles along a drive.

Coastal gardens. It handles salt laden air behind the front dune line.

Growing Bangalow Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Reliable in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens; it takes light frost only. Young palms want a little shade for their first couple of summers, then full sun where water is available.

Soil. Rich, moist soil grows the best palm, so dig in compost and mulch generously.

Water and feed. Not a dry garden palm. Water deeply and often through warm weather, especially on sand, and feed with a palm fertiliser in spring and midsummer.

Pruning. None needed. Spent fronds release on their own; just collect them. Never cut green fronds, which weakens the palm.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in a wide range of sizes: tube stock, 200mm pots in packs of six, 250mm pots in packs of three, singles in 300mm, 400mm and 500mm pots, then advanced stock from 45L, 75L, 100L, 110L and 160L up to 200L with real trunk. Tubes and packs are the economical way to plant a screen; from 45L up you are buying instant presence.

Palms travel well with fronds tied; a marked outer frond after transit is normal, not a fault. Stock is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every palm is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Guide to palm tree varieties
• Browse the full palm range
• Alexander Palm, its northern relative
• More plants for poolside gardens

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Fast for a palm. With warmth, water and feed, a screen planted from 300mm pots feels established within three to four seasons, and height builds once a trunk forms.

Is it safe near a pool or pipes?

Yes, the fibrous roots are non-invasive, one of the safer tall plants near pools, paving and services. Berries and spent fronds do drop, so expect some scooping from an uncovered pool.

Bangalow or Alexander Palm?

Both are eastern Australian natives that look similar. Alexander has silvery frond undersides and prefers northern warmth; Bangalow copes better with cooler winters, so it is the pick further south.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Only in a warm, frost sheltered microclimate, and even then slowly. It tolerates light frost at most, so in cold districts it is not a reliable outdoor palm.