Licuala ramsayi, the Australian Fanpalm, is one of the most beautiful Australian Palms. Although naturally occurring on the riverbanks and swamps of North East Queensland, it is one of the most cold tolerant Licualas. However, it will not tolerate any frost. It is most suited as an under/middle storey plant in a rainforest type situation. Very large, bright green fan leaves are simply stunning when used against a dark backdrop, this could be a painted wall, a fence or a hedge.
In my garden a group of three Licualas grows against a Podocarpus elatus hedge under large Alexander Palms. The palms grow very slowly, after 10 years they are about 3m tall with no real trunk. The individual fans are 1m across held on 1.8m long stalks. This growing habit makes Licualas ideal as a striking low screening or feature plant. To successfully grow Licualas out of their natural range, it’s important to have sufficient protection from full sun and wind, canopy plants also give some protection against cold. Regular mulching and occasional fertilising will ensure the soil is kept in good condition, they like moist and fertile soil but can tolerate dry periods without any problems.
Licuala ramsayi is one of those underused landscape plants, which with correct use and positioning can add the ‘whow’ factor to a garden design.
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