Livistona victoriae

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: liv-ih-STONE-uh vick-TORR-ee-ay


Common Name: Victoria River Fan Palm

Livistona victoriae is a marginal palm for California and so far few if any maturing palms exist in this state. However at least one moderate sized palm is doing well in Palm Desert, and more and more growers are trying this palm in the warmer, frost free climates. It has a nice pale fan leaf, somewhat similar to that of Livistona alfredii, another rare palm for California, but one with more hardiness. This palm is from northern Australia in an area which rarely if ever sees frosts.

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 20-30 fan leaves (estimated for California)
  • Height: 20' estimate
  • Trunk: single; 8" thick; mostly clean trunk in nature; pale grey
  • Crownshaft: none
  • Spread: 8'-10'
  • Leaf Description: moderately costapalmate; blue-green-grey; leaves divided 3/4 of their length; some leaflet droop, but not completely pendent as in many other Livistona species; 5'-6' long
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 3'-4' long; armed with small black teeth, at least for part of the petiole length; leaf bases un-split, but aren't retained on the trunk in maturity
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence:
  • Fruit: 1/2"; spherical, black and shiny when ripe
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 29F
  • Drought Tolerance: high, once established
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: excellent
  • Wind Tolerance: good
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: very slow to slow with maturity
  • Soil Preference: alkaline preferred, but adaptable
  • Light Requirement: full sun
  • Human Hazards: minimal petiolar dangers
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: tends to develop crown rot easily (particularly if tap water gets in it)
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: rare


Retrieved from "https://www.palmpedia.net/palmsforcal/index.php5?title=Livistona_victoriae&oldid=7189"