Livistona australis R.Br.; Mart.

Common name(s): Cabbage-tree Palm, Cabbage Palm, Australian Fan Palm

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae) Synonym(s): Livistonia inermis, Corypha australis R. Br., 1810
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark_lower
Bark (Lower)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark_upper
Bark (Upper)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Australia
  • NSW: NC, CC, SC
  • QLD: KN, PC, WB, MO
  • VIC: EG
Plant Type
Frond Retained, Palm Fan-leaved, Solitary
Frond Retained,
Palm Fan-leaved,
Solitary
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical,
Tropical Monsoon
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Sun - Morning,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Open Woodlands, Rainforest - Tropical, Rainforest - Temperate, Sclerophyll Forest - Wet
Open Woodlands,
Rainforest - Tropical,
Rainforest - Temperate,
Sclerophyll Forest - Wet
Habitat Zone(s)
Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Riparian areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Sandy Moist, Understory, Water sides, Well drained
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Landscape,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Riparian areas,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Sandy Moist,
Understory,
Water sides,
Well drained
Mature Height
20-25m, 25-30m
20-25m,
25-30m
Mature Width
4-5m, 5-6m
4-5m,
5-6m
Growth Rate
Slow, Moderate
Slow,
Moderate
Plant Shape
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense Standard Crown - Dense
Life Span
50-100yrs
50-100yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Glossy, Green, Green Dark
Glossy,
Green,
Green Dark
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Green, Green Light
Green,
Green Light
Frond Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
Rigid
Rigid
Frond Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
Rigid
Rigid
Frond Length
3-3.5m, 3.5-4m, 4-4.5m
3-3.5m,
3.5-4m,
4-4.5m
Frond Width
900mm-1m, 1-1.5m
900mm-1m,
1-1.5m
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Costapalmate
Costapalmate
Orbicular
Orbicular
Costapalmate Costapalmate,
Orbicular Orbicular
Frond Arrangement
Open Crown
Open Crown
Whorled
Whorled
Open Crown Open Crown,
Whorled Whorled
Fan Frond Margin
Entire
Entire
Entire Entire
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Brown, Brown Light, Grey-brown
Brown,
Brown Light,
Grey-brown
Colour(s) (Base)
Brown, Brown Light, Grey-brown
Brown,
Brown Light,
Grey-brown
Texture (Upper)
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Corky , Fibrous
Corky,
Fibrous
Texture (Base)
Grooved
Grooved
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Grooved Grooved,
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Late
Summer Late
Colour(s)
Cream-white, Cream-yellow, Yellow Light
Cream-white,
Cream-yellow,
Yellow Light
Flower Shape(s)
Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower
Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower
Funnelform
Funnelform
Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower,
Funnelform Funnelform
Flower Size(s) Length
1.5-2mm
1.5-2mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
Pannicle Pannicle
Pendulous
Pendulous
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Butterflies, Insects
Bees,
Butterflies,
Insects
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Drupe
Drupe
Drupe Drupe
Shape(s)
Globose
Globose
Globose Globose
Length
10-15mm, 15-20mm, 20-25mm
10-15mm,
15-20mm,
20-25mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay,
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Insect, Habitat
Insect,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Smog Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Good
Good
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Container, Fire Resistant, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Litter Issue - Leaves, Litter Issue - Nuts, Pool Side, Shade Tolerant, Shade tree-Light, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Garden-Container,
Fire Resistant,
Foliage-Interesting,
Garden-Australian Native,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Indoors,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Rainforest,
Garden-Tropical,
Litter Issue - Leaves,
Litter Issue - Nuts,
Pool Side,
Shade Tolerant,
Shade tree-Light,
Shady Moist,
Specimen,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

General Notes

The Cabbage palm is a native of Australia and grows further south than any other native palm, A great specimen tree for the landscape.

There are 35 - 60 fronds in the crown, each frond divided into 30 - 50 pinnae

The aboriginal people with the Tharawal dialect called the palm 'Dtharowal'.  The early settlers and aboriginal people used the frond for thatching rooves and baskets and ate the young growing point as cabbage, unfortunately this kills the palm after it has been harvested.