How to Grow Palms

Choose a spot in the garden with full sun or part shade – check the plant label for the best aspect. Prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots, cutting away any circled or tangled roots.

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed.

Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes. If the soil is not absorbing the water, it may be water repellent and need a soil wetter such as Yates Waterwise Soil Wetter.

Mulch around the base with organic mulch, like pine bark or sugar cane mulch, keeping it away from the trunk.

Feed in spring with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Choose a pot that is at least twice the size of the selected plant. Position in a spot in the garden that receives full sun or part shade – check the label for the best aspect.

Fill the pot with a quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots, cutting away any circled or tangled roots. Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. 

Water in well.

Mulch around the base with organic mulch, like pine bark or sugar cane mulch, keeping it away from the trunk. Inorganic mulches, like pebbles and stones, are okay to use but can cause compaction and heat stress.

Feed in spring with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. For indoor palms, feed with Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Liquid Plant Food.

There are many types of palms to choose from and while they differ in size and appearance, their growing conditions are the same, making it easier for you to grow more!

Note: heights marked with an asterisk (*) is the eventual height in an open garden setting. Height will be less if grown in a pot.

Australian Fan Palm (Licuala ramsayi) features large, dissected circular leaves that fan out from a single trunk. Prefers a sheltered spot in warm, frost-free climates. Height: 10-20 m*

Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) is a fast-growing palm with bright green leaves atop a smooth, grey trunk. Often used in public spaces and streetscapes. Height: 10-25 m*

Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis) is a statement piece with its large blue-green, fan-like fronds on a stout trunk. Slow growing, but ultimately needs space to spread. Height: 15-20 m*

Cabbage Palm (Livistona australis) is a tall-growing Australian native palm that is very hardy. It can cope with damp or dry conditions and tolerates light frosts. Stems have thorns, so take care and wear gloves when handling. Height: 10-20 m

Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) has a crown of glossy, fan-shaped foliage that droops along the edges. Height: up to 15 m*

Chinese Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) a hardy, attractive palm that is adaptable to growing in a variety of climates, from cool to subtropical zones. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Height: 7 m*

Elegant Fan Palm (Licuala elegans) has lush, accordion-textured fronds arising from a single slender trunk. Needs a protected spot in a warm climate. Height: 5 m*

Golden Cane Palm (Dypsis lutescens) is a multi-stemmed variety that forms a clump topped with feathery, yellow-green leaves. They are great for pots, or in the garden, including near salt pools and protected coastal gardens.

Height: 4 m*

Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) native to Lord Howe Island, this palm is popular all round the world because of its narrow growth habit, good looks and its ability to flourish indoors. It grows well in a shady spot outdoors. Height: up to 15 m but rarely grows above 6 m*

Lady Palm or Rhapis Palm (Rhapis excelsa) is a slow-growing variety that makes an excellent container plant for indoors or outdoors. Height: 3 m*

Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a popular indoor palm with wispy, elegant foliage. You can often find small specimens that are perfect for displaying on office desks or side tables. Height: 2 m*

Cascade Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum) is a small palm that is ideal for growing indoors or outdoors in a shaded position. Height: 1-2 m

Walking Stick Palm (Linospadix monostachya): a native Australian miniature palm with a thin trunk and a delicate but dense foliage crown. It’s found in the understorey of subtropical rainforests, so requires a deep shade position in the garden or a warm, low-light spot indoors.

Many palms are native to subtropical and tropical climates; however, most are adaptable and can grow outside of these climates. Always check plant labels before purchasing to ensure they will grow in your area or if there are certain conditions you need to provide to ensure success.

Most palms are happy as indoor plants, so if the outdoor environment is not suitable, consider growing indoors.

Palms can grow in full sun to part shade, depending on the variety. For example, the Bangalow Palm, Cabbage Palm and Golden Cane Palm thrive in full sun, but also enjoy growing in part shade. Check plant labels for more detailed advice on where to position a selected palm.

For indoors, palms prefer a spot with bright, indirect light. Some palms, like the Lady Palm and Parlour Palm can tolerate growing in lower light conditions. 

If growing in pots, choose a suitable sized pot and fill with Yates Premium Potting Mix.

Once established, feed outdoor palms in spring with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Feed indoor palms with Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Liquid Plant Food.

Water regularly after planting. Once established, some palms, like the Australian Fan Palm, Bismarck Palm, Cabbage Palm and Chinese Fan Palm are tolerant of short, dry spells. However, they will perform better with regular water, especially during extended dry periods. Spread a layer of organic mulch over the soil to help conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Palms are generally not invasive because they have a fibrous root system. A fibrous root system grows many horizontal and moderately branching roots from the base of the trunk. These eventually grow into a dense matting of roots with maturity.

Although Palms are typically not invasive, it does depend on the situation. Make sure you get a Palm that doesn't grow too big for the area. For example, if you have a garden bed that is only half a metre wide go for shorter-growing palms such as Lady Palms, Parlour Palms, and Cascade Palms, and if you have plenty of space you can grow taller-growing Palms such as Bangalow Palms or Royal Palms.

Single-trunked Palms, such as a Bangalow Palm or Kentia Palm, can not be pruned. Palms grow from the central spear located at the top of the plant. If this central spear is pruned off, then the tree will no longer grow. You can thin out clumping Palms, such as a Golden Cane Palm or Rhapis Palm, by cutting them at the base of each trunk.

If you've noticed white sticky stuff on the underside of your palm leaves, or down in the stems, it's likely to be Mealybugs. These are tiny sap-sucking pests often covered in white waxy material (fluffy stuff) and are sometimes seen with Ants and Sooty Mould.

If you've got squishable lumps and bumps on your palm leaves and stems, then it's likely to be the pest Scale. Scales are small and immobile sap-sucking pests that can be soft or hard. Soft Scales are often seen with Ants and Sooty Mould.

Mealybugs and Scale Insects are common pests on palms. They’re often hiding in the leaf axils or on the undersides of the foliage. For small palms or infestations, treat Mealybugs with Yates Baythroid Advanced Garden Pest Insect Killer Ready to Use Spray. For larger palms or treatment of several palms, use Yates Baythroid Advanced Garden Pest Insect Killer for Gardens – this is a concentrate and needs to be mixed in a sprayer for use. Palms can be sensitive to sprays, so it’s best to test on a small area and wait for a few days to see if there are any adverse reactions. If no adverse reactions are seen (e.g., falling or yellowing leaves), then you can continue with a more widespread application.

For Scale Insect control, you will need to apply an oil-based product, like Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray. Please test on a small area first and observe for a few days before applying to the rest of the plant.

Most palms need high humidity. If the air is too dry, leaf tips will brown off and in severe cases, entire fronds can dry and brown. This can be managed by increasing the humidity using a humidifier or grouping plants closer together to create a humid micro-climate. Misting can help, but it is a temporary solution.

A brown and dying Palm is a stressed one. First, look all over the plant for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases and treat as required (see Common Problems of Palms).

If there are no signs or symptoms of pests and diseases then the plant is likely not getting proper care. Make sure that plant is getting the right amount of light, fertiliser, water, as well as good drainage. Also, keep away from heaters and air conditioners. 

Yellowing palm leaves may be a sign of Sunburn, pest attack, or a nutrient deficiency such as magnesium.

To help correct magnesium deficiency, apply Yates Leaf Greener Magnesium Chelate as a foliar spray.