About
Archontophoenix alexandrae is a rapidly growing palm characterized by its elongated trunk, which is swollen at the base and marked with leaf scars. It features large, arching fronds that can reach lengths of up to 4 meters, composed of many narrow leaflets that display a pale green or purple hue on the upper side and a grey or silver tone beneath. During the summer months, clusters of cream to yellow flowers emerge, giving way to pinkish-red fruit afterwards.
About the genus
Archontophoenix consists of single-stemmed, evergreen palms characterized by their broad, feathery leaves and substantial clusters or racemes of small, cup-shaped blooms.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1B
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse, Palms
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- Higher than 12 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, Sub-tropical
- Native to
- E Australia
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass grow in peat-free potting compost in bright, filtered light with moderate humidity. When in growth, water moderately and apply a liquid fertilizer monthly; keep just moist in winter. Outdoors grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in part shade to prevent leaf scorch
- Pruning
- Minimal pruning required; remove dead leaves by cutting close to the leaf base leaving stubs to create a neat pattern
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in spring at 24-27°C (75-81°F). Keep compost moist and air humid
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free