Australian Fan Palm

Licuala Ramsayi

 
 
 

This spectacular Australian native palm tree from northern Queensland has stunning near circular leaves of up to 2m in diameter and up to 20m tall.  It has a single trunk and grows best and is happiest when grown in moist well-drained soil and given plenty of shade, especially when young.  It can be grown in subtropical regions as long as the area is frost-free.  It is a slow-grower, so you’ll have to be patient but it will be worth the wait!  It’s a wonderful plant to grow in pots. 

This tree is famous for its verdant, bright green leaves and each plant usually has 9–12 of these huge, segmented, pleated and near-circular leaves.  They resemble a huge fan, hence their common name.

The Fan Palm was an important plant for Aboriginal groups from north QLD, as the leaves provided thatching and shelter from heavy rains, and also for food wrapping. The Fan Palm usually flowers between November and January, and fruits between January and March.

 
 
 

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