Australian Fan Palm

The Australian Fan Palm is the cabbage tree palm of the east coast, one of the few feature palms that grows from the tropics into cool temperate gardens. Livistona australis reaches about 8m tall and 3m wide over ten to fifteen years, carrying a tight crown of deeply divided circular fronds on a slender ringed trunk. It grows slowly, which is why it suits small gardens.

Why you'll love it

• A true Australian native. It grows wild from Fraser Island to Gippsland, so it belongs in an east coast garden.
• Slow growth is the feature. It stays in scale with a courtyard or small backyard for decades instead of years.
• Tough where it counts. Salt tolerant, drought tolerant once established and comfortable in humidity, with light frost tolerance few tropical palms can match.
• It brings birds in. Cream flower panicles are followed by red-black fruit that native birds work through in late summer.

Where it works best

Poolside. Palm roots are fine and fibrous, so there is no risk to a shell, paving or pipework, and fronds drop whole rather than shredding. Allow 1.5m from the coping.

Feature and courtyard planting. A single specimen in lawn or a group of three at staggered heights is classic, and the 3m spread suits gardens too small for a bangalow.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 3m apart along a drive for a formal rhythm of trunks, or 4m if you want each crown reading separately.

Growing Australian Fan Palms in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with some shade for the first year or two. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, Cairns through to Melbourne, and tolerates light frost. Hard frosting inland districts will damage the crown.

Soil. Free draining soil with organic matter is best, though it copes with sand and clay that drains. Mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk base.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers, then weekly, and after that it manages on rainfall. Feed a palm fertiliser with magnesium and potassium in early spring and mid summer.

Pruning. Remove only fully brown fronds, cutting the stalk close to the trunk. Never cut green fronds: a palm has one growing point and cannot replace lost leaf area quickly. Watch your hands, as the leaf stalks carry sharp recurved spines along the edges.

What to expect when it arrives

Seven sizes are grown: 200mm pots in packs of six, 300mm and 400mm pots, 45L, 100L, 150L, and advanced 1000L specimens. Smaller pots hold young palms with no trunk yet and are the economical way to plant a group, though trunk development takes years. The 45L and 100L sizes are the practical middle ground; 150L and above arrive with a visible trunk.

Fronds are tied in for transit and may show minor tip burn, which grows out. Plant within a few days, water in heavily, 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 palm is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to palm tree varieties.
• Browse the full palm range.
• Poolside planting that will not damage a shell.
• Australian native trees.

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly, which is part of the appeal. Expect a few fronds a year and several years before a clear trunk forms. For height sooner, start with 100L or larger.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Yes, in a sheltered position. It handles cool temperate gardens and light frost, unlike most tropical palms, though growth is slower and a hard frost pocket marks the crown.

Do I need to prune it?

Only to tidy spent fronds. Cut brown fronds close to the trunk and leave green ones alone. Wear gloves: the leaf stalks are spined along both edges.