African Oil Palm

African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a heavy tropical feature palm for gardens with real room. In an Australian garden it reaches roughly 10m tall and 6m across over ten to fifteen years, carrying a broad crown of arching fronds on a thick patterned trunk. It grows fast, it wants heat and humidity, and it is one of the few palms that copes with ground that stays wet.

Why you'll love it

• Scale that changes a garden. A 6m crown at maturity throws proper shade, so one specimen does the work of a group of ornamental palms.
• Fast for its size. Given warmth, water and feed it puts on height quickly, unusual in a palm this heavy.
• Wet ground is fine. It tolerates wet feet, so low corners that rot other palms suit it well. The orange fruit is edible and is the commercial source of palm oil.
• Built for heat and humidity. Wet season conditions in the far north are its native climate, not something it merely tolerates.

Where it works best

Feature planting and shade. Give it an open position at least 4m clear of the house, paving and services. Once the trunk lifts, the canopy casts a wide pool of dappled shade over a lawn or a pool surround.

Driveways and avenues. Planted in a line at 8m to 10m spacing it makes a genuine tropical avenue, though that is a long project on a large property rather than a suburban block.

Growing African Oil Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Tropical and subtropical gardens only. It is frost tender, so it belongs in far north and coastal Queensland, the Top End and the warmest parts of northern New South Wales. Anywhere with regular frost it will not perform outdoors, and we would steer you to a hardier palm.

Soil. Deep, rich soil with plenty of organic matter suits it best, and it is not fussy about drainage. Work compost through a wide planting hole rather than a deep one.

Water and feed. This is a high water palm. Keep it well watered year round, especially through the dry season up north. Feed a slow release palm fertiliser with magnesium and potassium three times a year, because yellowing lower fronds usually mean a nutrient shortfall rather than age.

Pruning. Remove only fully brown fronds, cut close to the trunk. Green fronds feed the palm, and trimming back to a narrow tuft weakens the crown and slows growth.

What to expect when it arrives

We supply it in one size, a 400mm pot. That is a juvenile palm with a low rosette of fronds and no clear trunk, usually knee to waist height. Trunk development takes several years, so buy it as a long term planting rather than an instant effect.

Palms travel with their fronds tied, and some tip burn or a bent leaf after transit is normal. Expect it to sit quietly for a month, then push a new frond every few weeks through the warm season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• An overview of palm varieties and how to choose one
• Browse the full palm tree range
• Large palms for immediate impact
• Companion plants for a tropical garden

Common questions

How big does it really get in a garden?

Around 10m tall and 6m across over ten to fifteen years in a cultivated Australian garden. It grows far taller in its native habitat, but garden conditions and a cooler climate keep it well short of that.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and needs a tropical or subtropical climate. A single cold night can damage the growing point, so it is not a plant for southern or inland gardens.

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 4m of clearance from walls, paving and services, given the 6m mature crown. More is better, because the lower fronds sweep well beyond the trunk as the palm matures.