Archontophoenix alexandrae
Alexandra palm
A tall, fast-growing palm with a slender trunk, swollen at the base and ringed with leaf scars. Huge, arching leaves up to 4m long have numerous, narrow leaflets pale green or purple-flushed above, grey or silver below. In summer, cream to yellow flowers open in large sprays, followed by pinkish-red fruit
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Cream Yellow | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | Red | ||
| Winter | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1BBotanical details
- Family
- Arecaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Archontophoenix are single-stemmed evergreen palms with large pinnate leaves and large panicles or racemes of small cup-shaped flowers
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- E Australia
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass grow in loamless 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
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in spring at 24-27°C (75-81°F). Keep compost moist and air humid
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Sub-tropical
Pruning
Minimal pruning required; remove dead leaves by cutting close to the leaf base leaving stubs to create a neat pattern
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.