Hooker's Red Palm

Hooker's Red Palm (Chambeyronia macrocarpa 'Hookerii') is the palm to buy when you want one specimen doing all the work. Each new frond unfurls a glossy scarlet before hardening to deep green over a week or two, and in a garden it holds around 7m tall and 3m wide. It is slow, which is part of the appeal: the shape stays in proportion for years.

Why you'll love it

• The red frond. Two or three new leaves a year, each holding that scarlet for a week or more. Nothing else in the garden does it.
• Slow and well mannered. Growth is measured in a frond or two a year, so it will not outgrow a courtyard or need constant lifting.
• Non-invasive roots. Safe near paving, pool shells and services, which is why it turns up so often in built courtyards.
• Single clean trunk. One slender stem with a smooth crownshaft, so it takes up floor space without blocking a view.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Give it one prominent position rather than a row. Set against a dark wall or uplit from below, the red frond reads from across the garden.

Poolside. The roots stay out of trouble and old fronds shed whole rather than dropping constant litter, which makes it an easier poolside palm than most.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. Its pace suits a large container. Use a pot at least 500mm wide and deep, and expect it to sit comfortably at 2m to 3m for many years.

Growing Hooker's Red Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade suits it best, particularly while young, and it will take more sun once the trunk is up. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate palm and it is frost tender, so cold inland and southern gardens should grow it under cover or in a pot that can be moved.

Soil. Rich and free draining, with organic matter through the backfill. It handles humidity and wind well but not waterlogging. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Keep the root zone consistently moist through the first two summers, then water deeply in dry spells. A palm specific fertiliser in early spring and late summer prevents the yellowing that comes from magnesium and potassium shortfalls.

Pruning. Only remove fronds once they are fully brown. Cutting green fronds off a slow palm sets it back a full season.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in three sizes: 400mm, 90L and 160L. The 400mm plants are young, usually a low cluster of fronds with no visible trunk yet, and are the patient buy. The 90L and 160L palms arrive with real height and presence, and are what most people choose when the palm is the centrepiece.

Palms travel with fronds tied and often show some tip burn on arrival, which is normal and grows out. Plants are delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Start with our overview of palm tree varieties.
• Browse the full palm tree range.
• See what else suits a poolside garden.
• For instant height, compare large palms.

Common questions

How fast will it grow?

Slowly. Expect a handful of fronds a year and several years before a clear trunk forms. That patience is the trade for a palm that stays in scale.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and cold damages the spear leaf. In cool temperate or frost prone gardens, grow it in a pot under cover or in a warm protected courtyard.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes, and its slow growth makes it one of the better palms for containers. Use a wide pot with free draining mix, water regularly through summer, and repot every three to four years.