White Elephant Palm

White Elephant Palm (Kerriodoxa elegans) is a rainforest fan palm with the most distinctive leaf undersides of any palm in cultivation: chalk white beneath, deep glossy green above, held on near black stems. In a garden it settles at about 4m tall and 3m across, and it is very slow, so that size represents many years of growth rather than a few seasons.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage you notice from across the garden. The white backed fans catch reflected light in a shaded courtyard, giving a pale glow that no green palm can match.
• It belongs in the shade. This is an understorey palm, so it solves the difficult problem of a dark, sheltered corner that needs presence.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. A non invasive root system means it can be planted close to a pool shell, paving or a wall without risk.
• Slow and self contained. At 4m by 3m and very slow, it stays in scale in a courtyard for decades.

Where it works best

Feature planting in a shaded courtyard. One specimen is enough. Give it a dark backdrop such as a hedge or a rendered wall so the white leaf undersides read properly.

Poolside. Non invasive roots and a clean, trunkless habit for many years make it a safe and elegant choice within a metre or two of the water.

Large pots and balconies. A pot 600mm or wider suits it, and its slow growth means a potted plant will not need moving on for many years.

Growing White Elephant Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade, sheltered from hot afternoon sun and drying wind, both of which scorch the leaf edges. It is strictly a tropical and subtropical plant. It is frost tender, so anywhere colder it has to be a pot under cover or a glasshouse plant.

Soil. Rich, free draining soil with plenty of organic matter, close to a rainforest floor. Work compost through the planting bed and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the crown.

Water and feed. Keep the soil consistently moist. This palm does not tolerate drying out, and high humidity suits it. A controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and mid summer supports the small number of leaves it makes each year.

Pruning. Remove only completely brown fronds. Each leaf is a large share of the whole plant, so cutting green or partly green fronds on a palm this slow sets it back for years.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a single size, an advanced 60L plant. Given how slowly this species grows, buying at that size is the sensible route: you get a substantial crown of mature leaves rather than a seedling that needs a decade.

Palms travel best upright and out of wind and sun. Expect a settling in period of a couple of months with little visible change, which is normal for a slow palm and not a sign of trouble. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare species in our guide to palm tree varieties.
• Browse the full palm tree range.
• See other plants for partial shade to plant around it.
• Find companions in exotic and rare plants.

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Very slowly, adding only a few leaves a year, and it stays trunkless for a long time. That is the main reason to buy an advanced plant rather than a small one.

Can it take full sun?

No. It is an understorey palm and full sun bleaches and burns the leaves. Give it partial shade with shelter from wind for the best foliage.

Will it survive a cold winter?

It is frost tender and suited to tropical and subtropical gardens only. In temperate and cool districts, grow it in a pot in a warm, sheltered position or under glass.