Livistona

( liv - iss - TONE - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of palm trees includes species which need full sun and regular water to perform well in the garden. They are slow-growing, and have short, dark, shiny leaves. All species make great potted plants as well as landscape trees, and add a tropical effect to garden spaces. Most species are native to Asia, Australia, and Africa. Use these palms as focal points or specimens, in containers on patios or walkways, as screening or street trees, or in xeriscaping situations. Take care when planting and handling these trees and their parts, as they can have very sharp thorns on their stems.

livistona Species and Varietals

The genus Livistona is in the plant family Aracaceae and includes 27 species. They are closely related to trees in the Brahea (Hesper Palms) and Pritchardia (Fan Palms) genera. The best growing zones for Livistona are USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 9, 13-17, 19-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map

Livistona alfredii (Millstream Palm, Millstream Fan Palm)
These trees are found only in the northwestern region of Western Australia, where they grow in forested areas and are threatened by habitat loss. They produce cream-colored flowers from July through September in their native range, and fruits follow from December through May. Trees reach about 40 feet tall when mature, and have green foliage.

Livistona australis (Cabbage Tree Palm, Australian Cabbage Palm, Australian Fan Palm)
These palms, native to the forests of eastern Australia, reach 40-50 feet tall and 15 feet wide at maturity. The trunk is clean and slender, and is covered with interesting-looking leaf scars. Leaves are dark green, and 3-5 feet wide. This species is considered invasive in New Zealand and Polynesia.

Livistona benthamii (Bentham's Fountain Palm, Bentham's Fan Palm, Cabbage Palm)
Native to Queensland, Australia and New Guinea, this species of solitary palm grows in open forests. At maturity, these palms can reach up to between 30 and 60 feet tall. This species has naturalized in Florida, but is not considered invasive.

Livistona boninensis (Bonin Islands Fan Palm, Bonin Fountain Palm, Ogasawara Fan Palm, Ogasawara-birou, オガサワラビロウ)
This species of palm is native to the Bonin Islands of Japan, and has been introduced to Japan's Volcano Islands, as well. Leaves are green to light green, and trees reach about 66 feet tall when mature.

Livistona chinensis (Chinese Fountain Palm, Chinese Fan Palm, Fountain Palm, Birou, ビロウ, Pú kuí, 蒲葵)
Native to Japan and Taiwan, these slow-growing trees eventually reach 40 feet tall and 15 feet wide. 3-6 foot wide leaves are bright green and droop heavily at the outer edges. This species is considered invasive in tropical and subtropical climates such as Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mauritius, Réunion, New Caledonia, Indonesia, and Florida and Hawai'i in the United States.

Livistona decora (Livistona decipiens) (Ribbon Fan Palm, Weeping Cabbage Palm)
This species of palm is endemic to Queensland, Australia's Magnetic Island, though it is grown worldwide as a landscape ornamental. These trees can reach up to 65 feet tall (30-40 feet tall and 15 feet wide at 20 years of age). Leaves are green on top and bluish underneath, about 2-5 feet across. Leaf stems are long and spiny, with down-hanging terminal leaflets.

Livistona endauensis (Endau Fan Palm, Bertam, Serdang Endau)
This species was relatively recently discovered (1987), and prefers to grow in lowland open and closed jungles. The species is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. Endau Fan Palms produce white to cream-colored flowers. Individual palms can reach up to 50 feet tall.

Livistona jenkinsiana (Major Jenkins' Fan Palm, Assam Fan Palm, Himalayan Fan Palm, Toko Palm, Toko Tree)
This species of fan palm is native to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, China, and Thailand. These palms have large fan-shaped leaves and produces blue fruits that are longer than they are wide. These palm trees can reach up to 35 to 40 feet tall when mature and form a dense crown atop a single, slender trunk. Perfectly circular fan leaves can reach up to 6.5 feet across.

Livistona mariae (Central Australian Palm, Red Cabbage Palm, Central Australian Cabbage Palm, Palm Valley Palm)
Native to the hot, dry interior areas of Australia. Eventually reaches 80-100 feet tall and 15 feet wide in its native habitat, but is seen more commonly around 10-15 feet tall, and is very slow-growing. Young plants and plants grown in containers have reddish leafstalks and foliage. Needs little to moderate water to perform well.

Livistona nitida (Carnarvon Gorge Cabbage Palm, Carnarvon Fan Palm, Carnarvon Palm, Dawson River Fan Palm, Glossy Cabbage Palm)
This species is endemic to Queensland, Australia, and produces cream to yellow flowers from September through December in its native range. Fruits follow from November through March. These palms naturally grow along streambeds and in flood plains, but are also found in gulches or near sandstone cliffs. These palms can reach up to 30-50 feet tall at maturity with a canopy spread of 10-15 feet.

Livistona saribus (Swamp Serdang, Taraw Palm, Triek, Sar)
This species of palm is native to southeast Asia, and only takes temperatures down to 75 degrees Fahrenheit before enduring some damage. Leaf stems are lined with spines that resemble shark teeth, and trees reach between 40 and 60 feet tall when mature, though some specimens have been seen at over 100 feet. This species has naturalized in the Society Islands and China, though is not considered invasive.

Caring for livistona

Take care when planting and handling these trees and their parts, as they can have very sharp thorns on their stems. Plant your palm tree in a spot in the yard that gets partial shade during the day, especially during the warmer, brighter hours of the day. Foliage can burn if sun is too direct or long-lasting, especially during high temperatures. These palms appreciate well-draining soil, and will not do well if left in standing water. These palms prefer soil to have a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0 (neutral to slightly acidic). Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperatures. Water new plantings and established trees regularly to keep soil consistently moist. As a rule of thumb, a good time to water is when the top one to two inches of soil is dry to the touch. In wintertime when trees are dormant, reduce waterings. Prune Livistona trees sparingly; older, browned foliage can be removed when it appears. Remove fronds at their base without damaging the trunk. Avoid removing any healthy fronds, as this will affect the tree's ability to photosynthesize properly. If growing trees in containers, they should be moved indoors or into protected areas when temperatures are going to drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Caring for Livistona in Containers
Livistona palms are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in containers, allowing them to be kept at a smaller size on patios or along walkways. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Eventually, these trees will need pots that are at least 15 gallons. The pot should be made of heavy-weight material, like terracotta or ceramic, to ensure that these top-heavy trees do not tip over under the weight of their own canopy. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Cabbage Palms grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Caring for Livistona Indoors
Place your Livistona in a spot that receives bright, indirect light for several hours each day. South or west-facing windows are ideal for these palms. They prefer temperatures that stay between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit; anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit will cause damage to foliage. Make sure soil is well-draining, and that containers have good holes for drainage that allow excess water to flow away from the root zone. Cabbage Palms will not do well with wet feet. Keep soil consistently moist, but not soggy. These palms will need to be repotted every two to three years to maintain proper health. They do not mind being slightly root-bound, but do need enough space for their roots to grow.

Propagation

Livistona palms are best propagated through seeds. To propagate your palm tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Livistona by Seed

You will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seeds produced by Livistona plants are contained inside of the fruits produced by trees once they reach maturity and there are male and female trees in close proximity to one another. Fruits are typically blue in color, and are mature (ready for harvesting) in late summer to early fall.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot. Cover them with soil and water. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes a few months from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Livistona seeds are contained inside of the turquoise to blue fruits produced by mature trees.

Livistona seeds are typically brown, and can be round or ovular.

Problems and Pests

Certain Livistona species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Livistona palm trees are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases: