© Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC-BY) · iNaturalist
Archontophoenix spp.
king palm
Overview
Archontophoenix spp. is a genus of tall, single-trunked feather palms in the family Arecaceae, with about six species native to the rainforests of eastern Australia. Plants grow a slender, grey, closely ringed trunk to 40-80 feet (12-25 m) tall, topped by a smooth green crownshaft and a crown of arching pinnate fronds 6-13 feet (2-4 m) long. The leaflets are arranged in a single plane, green above and often silvery or grey-scaled beneath. Branched flower clusters emerge from below the crownshaft, carrying many small cream to lilac flowers, followed by rounded fruits about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) wide that ripen red. A. cunninghamiana, the bangalow or piccabeen palm, and A. alexandrae, the Alexandra palm, are the two species in wide cultivation as street, park, and indoor palms. The genus grows in moist, humid forest, along streams, and in swampy ground, generally on rich soils with reliable water. Plants grow fast where warm and moist but are damaged by frost, drought, and strong wind, which tears the fronds. Self-sown seedlings appear freely under mature palms, and A. cunninghamiana has naturalized beyond its range in some mild regions.
Native Range
Native to the rainforests of eastern Australia, from Queensland to New South Wales. Plants grow in moist, humid forest, along streams, and in swampy lowland and upland sites.Suggested Uses
Archontophoenix spp. is grown as a street, avenue, and park palm in frost-free climates and as a large container or indoor palm elsewhere. Groups of several trunks of differing heights are planted for a layered effect. The red fruit feeds birds, and the tall crowns give light shade over patios and understory plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height40' - 80'
Width/Spread10' - 20'
Bloom Information
Flowering can occur through much of the year in warm climates, often peaking in the warmer months. The branched clusters of small cream to lilac flowers open below the crownshaft and draw bees and other insects. Green fruits follow and ripen to red over several months, attracting fruit-eating birds.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to lilacFoliage Description
green, silvery beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun to part shade, with young palms preferring some shade, in moist, rich, well-drained soil at a pH near 5.5 to 7.0. The genus needs steady water and humidity and tolerates wet ground, but it suffers in drought, hard frost, and exposed, windy sites. Hardiness is limited to warm climates, roughly USDA zones 9 to 11, with A. cunninghamiana taking brief light frost. Propagation is from fresh seed, which germinates readily in warmth over a few months. Steady watering, feeding, and shelter from wind produce the fastest, cleanest growth. Old fronds are shed cleanly from the crownshaft, leaving the ringed trunk bare.Pruning
Only fully brown, dead fronds are removed, cut close to the trunk once they hang down. Green fronds are left in place, since over-trimming weakens the palm and exposes the growing point. Spent fruit clusters can be cut away to cut down on seedling spread and litter.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 15 gallons