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

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

Life Span

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

Leathery

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Leathery,

Smooth,

Waxy

Rigid

Frond Texture (back)

Glabrous

Leathery

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Leathery,

Smooth,

Waxy

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

Frond Shapes

Costapalmate

Orbicular

Costapalmate,

Orbicular

Frond Arrangement

Open Crown

Whorled

Open Crown,

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Fibrous Sheath

Petiolate

Fibrous Sheath,

Petiolate

Fan Frond Margin

Entire

Fan Frond Cross Section

Pleated / Folded

Fan Frond Apice(s)

Acute Narrowly

Entire

Recurved

Acute Narrowly,

Entire,

Recurved

Fan Frond Venation

Parallel Multicostate Divergent

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Lanceolate

Linear

Lanceolate,

Linear

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

500-550mm, 550-600mm, 600-650mm

500-550mm,

550-600mm,

600-650mm

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

30-40mm, 40-50mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Fan

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Induplicate

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel

Sheath Colour(s)

Green

Petiole Length

1.5-2m, 2-2.5m

1.5-2m,

2-2.5m

Petiole Texture

Waxy

Petiole Feature(s)

Spines Basal , Spines-Fine , Spines-Short

Spines Basal,

Spines-Fine,

Spines-Short

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

Corky , Fibrous

Corky,

Fibrous

Texture (Base)

Grooved

Rough / Scabrous

Grooved,

Rough / Scabrous

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

450-500mm

Length

18-19m, 19-20m, 20-21m

18-19m,

19-20m,

20-21m

Features

Prominent Growth Rings as Ridge Steps

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Cream-white, Cream-yellow, Yellow Light

Cream-white,

Cream-yellow,

Yellow Light

Flower Shape(s)

Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower

Funnelform

Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower,

Funnelform

Flower Size(s) Length

1.5-2mm

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Pannicle

Axillary, Interfoliar Short,

Pannicle

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

1.25-1.5m, 1.5-1.75m, 1.75-2m, 2-2.25m, 2.25-2.5m

1.25-1.5m,

1.5-1.75m,

1.75-2m,

2-2.25m,

2.25-2.5m

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Butterflies, Insects

Bees,

Butterflies,

Insects

Stamen Number

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Globose

Outer Colour(s)

Black, Dull, Red, Red-brown

Black,

Dull,

Red,

Red-brown

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Glaucous

Leathery

Glabrous,

Glaucous,

Leathery

Length

10-15mm, 15-20mm, 20-25mm

10-15mm,

15-20mm,

20-25mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nutlet

Colour

Brown, Brown-Light

Brown,

Brown-Light

Shape(s)

Globose

Texture(s)

Ribbed

Ribbed-slightly

Size

10-15mm

Seed Dispersal

Birds, Gravity

Birds,

Gravity

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root

Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Cord-like

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-Dry

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Insect, Habitat

Insect,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Smog Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Indigenous Use(s)

Leaves - Roofing, Thatching, Leaves - Weaving, Basketry, Leaves new - Eaten cooked, Leaves new - Eaten raw

Leaves - Roofing, Thatching,

Leaves - Weaving, Basketry,

Leaves new - Eaten cooked,

Leaves new - Eaten raw

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

Poor

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Scale

Mealy Bug,

Scale

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

Dormancy

Summer

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 700-800m

0-100m,

700-800m

Annual Precipitation Range

600mm, 650mm, 700mm, 750mm, 800mm, 850mm, 900mm, 950mm, 1,000mm, 1,100mm, 1,200mm

600mm,

650mm,

700mm,

750mm,

800mm,

850mm,

900mm,

950mm,

1,000mm,

1,100mm,

1,200mm

Propagation

Hot Water Stratified Seed

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.

Propagation Notes

Hot Water Stratified Seed

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Seed Collecting

Feb, Mar, Apr

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Material Preparation

The fruit takes quite a few months to ripen. Pick the fruit when it is brown to black, off the tree or from off the ground. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the nuts in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any nuts that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating nuts won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Wash the nuts thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the nuts as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:- 1 - 2 years

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

2 parts Premium Seed Raising Mix + 1 part Isolite

Treatment

Soak the seeds in thermos of off the boil hot water for 3 days. Fill the large forestry tubes or 150mm deep seedling trays with mix and firm down. Push the fresh nuts in till just the top is exposed, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 30-35° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect sun light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 1 - 3 months 3 – 5 months before first frond opens

Pricking out:- 2 - 5 months after germination

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix