Arenga australasica

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: uh-RENG-uh ah-struh-LASS-ih-kuh


Common Name: Australian Sugar Palm

Arenga australasica is a large, clustering, marginal palm that frankly is rarely seen in California, except usually as a small, sad plant. But in the right climates and zones, it might still manage to grow up to a larger size somewhere, and several have managed to keep this plant alive for years. Has mild frost tolerance, but does not seem to like our cool, relatively arid climate. Growing this one in well mulched, damp soils seem to be the way to keep this palm happy here. This palm is native to the warm, humid topical forests of northern Australia.

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: clustering with a crown of 6-12 feather leaves per stem
  • Height: 10' estimate
  • Trunk: multiple; 2"-4" thick (estimate); pale yellow to white; retained leaf bases with prominent rings between; minimal fiber on this species
  • Crownshaft: none
  • Spread: 5'-10'+
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose; premorse leaflets; stiff with little droop; dark green on top and whitish ventrally; 6' long
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 6" long; unarmed; leaf bases retained for years on stem (un-split); whitish
  • Reproduction: monoecious; monocarpic (each stem dies after it flowers, but plant keeps on growing)
  • Inflorescence: long and pendent (none have flowered in California)
  • Fruit: 3/4"; spherical; purplish black; toxic oxalates
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 30F
  • Drought Tolerance: low
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: probably high
  • Wind Tolerance: moderate
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: very slow to slow in California
  • Soil Preference: moist and well draining soil
  • Light Requirement: shade to filtered light when young but gradually to partial or full sun
  • Human Hazards: toxic fruits (oxalates)
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: not known
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: very rare- likely due mainly to lack of interest


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