PLANT FINDER
Central Australian Fan Palm
Livistona mariae var. rigida
Height: 50 feet
Spread: 15 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 9b
Other Names: Cabbage Palm, Palm Valley Livistona
Description:
This variety produces beautiful, gray-green fan shaped leaves with rigid leaf tips; young plants produce striking red leaves when in full sun; will eventually rise on a single trunk; an exceptional landscape accent
Ornamental Features
Central Australian Fan Palm is primarily valued in the landscape for its canopy of attractive foliage which towers high above the ground. It features subtle panicles of buttery yellow flowers held atop the branches in mid spring. It has attractive grayish green evergreen foliage. The fan-shaped palmate leaves are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter. The rough gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Landscape Attributes
Central Australian Fan Palm is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a towering form, with a high canopy of foliage concentrated at the top of the plant. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Central Australian Fan Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Vertical Accent
- Hedges/Screening
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Central Australian Fan Palm will grow to be about 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a high canopy of foliage that sits well above the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.
Central Australian Fan Palm is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
Characteristics
Applications
Ornamental Features