Pamba Palm

Pamba Palm (Dypsis pembana) gives you height without width. It sends up multiple slender trunks to around 8m tall in a clump about 3m across, each topped with arching dark green fronds above a clean crownshaft. The roots are non-invasive, so it can be planted close to paving or a pool shell without lifting them.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. Roughly 8m of height in a 3m footprint, which is exactly what a narrow side boundary or a small courtyard needs.
• Safe near hard surfaces. Non-invasive roots mean it can go near paths, pool surrounds and services without the usual worry.
• Exposed and coastal sites suit it. Salt tolerant and wind tolerant, so a beachside garden does not shred the fronds.
• Several trunks from one plant. It clumps rather than growing a single stem, so a single plant reads as a group from day one.

Where it works best

Poolside. Clean trunks, no spines and a modest litter drop make it a practical pool palm. Set it back far enough that mature fronds clear the water.

Screening and privacy. Plant 2m apart for a palm screen. The clumping habit fills the space between trunks far better than a single stemmed palm can.

Feature planting and coastal gardens. One clump against a rendered wall or in a courtyard carries the whole corner, and salt laden wind does not burn it.

Growing Pamba Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It is frost tender and belongs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. Cool temperate and frost prone districts are not suitable, even with shelter.

Soil. Free draining and rich in organic matter. Dig compost through the planting hole and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunks. It will not tolerate standing water.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week through the first summer, then weekly in dry spells. A slow release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the fronds dark; yellowing older fronds usually signal a magnesium or potassium shortfall.

Pruning. Remove only fully browned fronds, cutting close to the trunk. Stripping green fronds to tidy the clump weakens the palm and slows it down.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold in one size, a 45L pot. That is an established multi trunked clump, typically well above head height on arrival, so you are buying presence rather than waiting several years for it.

Fronds are tied for transit and can look creased when unwrapped, settling within a fortnight. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Growth in a garden is steadier than the habitat figures suggest, so expect a season of establishment before new trunks appear from the base. Every plant 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 tree range
• Compare plants for poolside gardens
• Plants for coastal and salt exposed blocks

Common questions

How far apart should I plant them for a screen?

Two metres apart in a single row. Each plant matures into a clump about 3m wide, so at that spacing the crowns overlap into a continuous canopy without crowding the trunks.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender, and even a light frost damages the growing points. Keep it to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, or grow it in a large pot you can shift under cover.

Is it safe to plant near a pool?

Yes. The roots are non-invasive and it drops relatively little, though as with any palm near water, set it back so the mature fronds do not reach over the surface.