King Palm

The Mount Lewis King Palm is the one king palm collectors queue for. Archontophoenix purpurea grows to about 10m tall and 4m wide, and the feature is the crownshaft: a smooth column of deep violet purple between the ringed grey trunk and the arching fronds. It is an Australian native from far north Queensland, and it grows fast.

Why you'll love it

• The purple crownshaft. No other palm grown in Australia offers that colour, and it deepens as the palm matures.
• Fast for a feature palm. Quicker to height than most natives.
• Narrow footprint, real height. It lifts a garden vertically without swallowing the ground plane.
• Hardier than it looks. It comes from cool mountain rainforest above 900m, so it copes with conditions that stop lowland tropical palms.
• Cream flowers, then birds. Pendulous cream flower sprays are followed by red fruit that native birds strip through summer.

Where it works best

Screening with palms. Plant 2m apart. The crowns overlap into a continuous canopy while the trunks stay legible, the look most people want along a boundary.

Poolside. Fine fibrous roots pose no threat to a pool shell, paving or pipework, and it handles a soggy surround. Allow 1.5m from the coping.

Feature and avenue planting. A group of three at staggered heights shows the crownshafts best. Along a driveway, plant 3m apart so each crown holds its shape.

Growing King Palms in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun once established, with shade for the first year or two. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, from Cairns to Sydney. Light frost only, so cold inland and hard frosting gardens are not suitable.

Soil. Rich, moist, free draining soil with plenty of organic matter. It takes wet feet better than most palms, so a low damp corner suits it. Mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers and in dry spells after; a moisture check shows as brown frond tips. Feed a palm fertiliser with magnesium and potassium in early spring and mid summer.

Pruning. Minimal. Old fronds drop cleanly on their own. Never cut a green frond; a palm has one growing point.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 110L containers: an advanced palm with a formed trunk, developed crown and the crownshaft already showing, so it reads as a feature the day it goes in. It is heavy, and needs two people and a prepared hole ready.

Fronds are tied in for transit and may carry tip burn, which grows out with the next frond. Plant promptly and keep the moisture up for the first month. 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
• Large palms for immediate impact
• Browse the full palm range
• Poolside planting

Common questions

How is it different from a bangalow palm?

The crownshaft is purple rather than green, the trunk is stouter with more pronounced rings, and the fronds sit more upright. It also handles cool nights better.

How far apart for a screen?

Two metres. That spacing knits the crowns into a continuous canopy while the trunks stay visible.

Will it grow in Sydney or Perth?

In warm temperate coastal gardens, yes, in a sheltered position out of cold wind. Frost pockets will damage the crown.

Does it drop a lot of mess?

Less than most. Spent fronds detach and drop whole with the old flower stalk, so there is no ladder work.