Mangrove Fan Palm Licuala spinosa

Licuala spinosa suckers from the base into a dense, multi-stemmed clump instead of running up one trunk. Each leaf is a near-circular pleated fan split into blunt wedge segments, held on a long stalk edged with the spines that give the species its name. It grows on the margins of mangrove and monsoon forest through South East Asia, and resort and courtyard planting through coastal Queensland uses it for exactly that habit: a green mass at eye level in shade.

Shade, humidity and a wide berth from paths

Give it shade to part shade, moderate watering with regular attention through summer, and soil that holds moisture without turning sour. Growth is slow, so a clump thickens gradually and the size you plant is close to what you will have for some time. Warmth and humidity are what it is really asking for, which means tropical and warm subtropical coastal gardens, or a sheltered courtyard with a protected microclimate further south. The failure mode is putting it in direct sun in a dry, exposed bed. The fans yellow off, the segment tips go brown and crisp, and on a plant this slow those leaves stay in the clump for a long time. The second thing to plan for is the spines. They run along the leaf stalks and they catch skin and swimwear, so keep the clump back from paths, seating and pool coping rather than trimming it back later. Plant it where a building or an existing canopy already cuts the middle of the day, and mulch heavily with leaf litter, which is close to what its roots run through in habitat.

Which Licuala for which job

The three Licuala here do different work. Ruffled fan palm holds one slender trunk and an undivided circular leaf, so it is a single sculptural specimen for a sheltered spot. Licuala peltata var. sumawongii carries the same undivided form on a much larger, glossier blade. Licuala spinosa is the clumping one, and its divided fan copes with moving air better than either of those undivided leaves, so it is the choice where you want mass, screening at eye level and a plant that will not be ruined by a breezy afternoon. Compare all three in the palm collection.

Pruning a spiny clump and keeping it fed

Wear thick gloves and long sleeves. Cut spent leaves off at the base of the stalk, in the warm months, and pull the whole stalk clear of the clump rather than leaving spiny stubs at hand height. Thin surplus suckers occasionally so the fans do not shred against each other and the clump keeps a readable outline. Feed with a controlled release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer, spread over the root zone rather than against the stems, and maintain a deep leaf-litter mulch, which suits its forest-floor rooting. Keep that mulch clear of the cane bases so the clump does not rot at ground level. Skip feeding through the cool months.

Choosing a size

This plant is available in 3 sizes, from 250mm up to 100L, priced from $99.95 to $649.00 per plant. The size shown is the pot the plant arrives in, which is the rootball, not the height of the plant. Every size here is established stock rather than a starter plant, so this line is intended for immediate effect rather than for growing on. Not sure which to choose? Read our guide to when to plant in Australia.