Window Palm

Window Palm (Beccariophoenix fenestralis) is a rare Madagascan palm with a clean grey trunk and long arching fronds, named for the translucent windows that show between the leaflets on young plants. In an Australian garden it settles at about 8m tall with a 4m crown, so it is a genuine feature tree rather than a courtyard palm. The 20m figures you may read are habitat measurements and do not apply here.

Why you'll love it

• A collector's palm at landscape scale. Rarely available and unmistakable, with a heavy symmetrical crown that makes one specimen enough for a whole space.
• Built for exposed positions. Wind tolerant and salt tolerant, so it holds its fronds together on a coastal block instead of shredding.
• Clean around water. Fronds shed cleanly and there is no significant fruit litter, which makes it a sound poolside choice.
• Low maintenance once established. Beyond water in the first years and the occasional dead frond, it looks after itself.

Where it works best

Feature planting and poolside. A single palm in a lawn, courtyard or pool surround carries the space on its own. Allow at least 4m of clear width for the crown to spread.

Coastal gardens and driveways. Salt and wind tolerance suit an exposed seaside block, and a matched row down a driveway gives an avenue with real formality.

Growing Window Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun once established. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens only. It is frost tender, so cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens are out, and young plants want shelter from cold wind in their first winters.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil enriched with compost. This is not a swamp palm, and standing water will rot the roots.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers, then weekly in dry spells. A controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in midsummer keeps the fronds green and heads off the yellowing that comes from potassium shortage.

Pruning. Remove only fully brown fronds, cutting close to the trunk. Never cut green fronds or trim into the crown, because a palm has a single growing point and cannot recover from damage to it.

What to expect when it arrives

This palm is sold in three forms. The 110L plants are young, with a forming trunk and a crown already showing the shape of the species. The 600L palms are substantial landscape specimens. The ex ground option is a mature field grown palm lifted for immediate impact, and it is the choice when the garden needs to look finished on day one.

Palms of this size need machinery and clear access at the delivery end, so plan that before ordering. Plants are delivered Australia wide and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. A minimum order of $300 before delivery applies, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our overview of palm tree varieties.
• Compare the full palm tree range.
• Browse large palms for instant impact.
• See other plants suited to poolside gardens.

Common questions

How big will it actually get?

About 8m tall with a 4m crown in an Australian garden. Larger figures come from wild stands in Madagascar and are not what a suburban block will produce over a normal lifetime.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender, and a hard frost will damage the crown badly. Plant it only in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and give young palms shelter through their first winters.

Can I plant it beside a pool?

Yes, and it is one of the better palms for it. The fronds shed cleanly and it takes salt and wind, so a windy pool surround does not tear it up.