Australian Fan Palm

The Australian Fan Palm is the nominate variety of Licuala ramsayi, one of two varieties recognized by the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. This slow-growing palm has a straight, slender trunk and a crown of broad, pleated, near-circular leaves with bright green tops and silvery undersides. It grows in the wet rainforests, swamps, and river margins of northeastern Queensland, where it can form stands; small cream-colored flowers develop into orange-red fruit ([Royal Botanic Garden Sydney](https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/our-science/our-collections/plant-names-and-classifications/palms), [Chicago Botanic Garden](https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/plant-finder/licuala-ramsayi-australian-fan-palm)). ## Maintenance Young palms need deep shade, while mature plants can tolerate full sun. Give it a warm, sheltered position and consistently moist, humus-rich, sandy soil. Chicago Botanic Garden reports that it cannot withstand temperatures below 40°F, so in temperate climates keep it in a warm, draft-free place through winter. Water moderately and do not let the root zone dry out.