Laccospadix australasica, or the “Atherton Palm” is a moderate sized palm native to montane rainforests in northeastern Queensland, Australia between 2600 and 5200 ft. (Mt. Lewis and Atherton Tableland region west of Cairns) in elevation that can exhibit a vibrant red new leaf, or the typical green.
This is an attractive palm that can be seen as a solitary palm or a clumping palm with multiple trunks. It can grow to about 20 feet in height with trunk up to 10 cm in diameter in solitary specimens, but clumping plants are shorter with narrower trunks.
The fronds are pinnate, and new fronds are often reddish brown in color. It produces long flower spikes that hang downwards from the crown of fronds. The flower stalk is unbranched and carries many small, bright red fruits. The fruit are small red and oval, growing along the length of the spike after flowering.
Although not a rare palm in its native habitat, the Atherton Palm is rarely seen in cultivation outside Australia. This is particularly surprising as it adapts easily to a range of climates and as it is a highly attractive, smallish palm that will find room in just about any garden. It also adapts well to cultivation in the house.
Laccospadix australasicus is comparatively slow growing and increasingly rare.
There are seven of this species in the Merwin Palm Collection.
Want to “virtually explore” the Merwin Palm Collection? Search through our archive of Palm Facts of the Week, featuring palms hand-planted by W.S Merwin. To search through the Online Merwin Palm Database, visit this link.
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