Palm Tree Naturalized in Hawaii
King Alexandra Palm can be found In Hawaii, Alexandra Palms are commonly cultivated for their attraction form, but they also grow wild in wet and mesic areas at low elevations. You can view them along the scenic Hamakua Coast, but their Orign is Australia. Alexandra Palms dominate the forrest in the flood zone beside Freshwater Creek , Cairns, Queensland. King Alexandra can Withstand Temperatures Down to 26° F in cold zones.
Archontophoenix alexandrae (scientific name), commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, Northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm, is a palm endemic to Queensland, Australia (it’s origin). It was named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, but is often erroneously referred to by the misnomer Alexandra palm. (Wikipedia)
How Tall Will King Alezandra Get?
Archontophoenix Alexandrae is a tall, solitary palm growing to a height of 98 feet with a trunk up to 12 inches in diameter. King Alexandra’s trunk is often swollen at the base, and bearing prominent leaf scars. King Alexander Palm can withstand temperatures down to 26° F.
The graceful crown has 8-10 pinnate, feather like fronds that measure up to 15 feet in length with 60 to 80 leaflets on each side of the midrib. The pinnae are dark green above and silvery-grey underneath, measuring up to 30 inches long, and the entire frond is usually twisted laterally.
The inflorescences of Archontophoenix alexandrae is a panicle, creamy white when first released from the protective sheath or prophyll that it develops within, and transtitioning through light green as the fruits develop and finally to brown when it’s shed from the tree. Flowering occurs randomly through the year and it’s not uncommon to find a group of these palms, some of which carry fruit and or flowers while others carry neither.
Habitat
The native range of this species is northeast and central east Queensland, from the Melville Range in Cape New York Peninsula to south of Gladstone. They’re typically found alongside river cources and swamps, often in locations that are severely inundated during heavy rain events.
King Alexandra is easily grown from fresh seed, and is very popular in cultivation in Australia, both for private gardens and as a street park tree. It is fast growing and will tolerate cooler climates outside the tropics where there are no frosts and has been widely planted in many countries.
The Alexandra Palm are commonly cultivated for their attactive form, but they also grow wild in wet and mesic areas at low elevations. These palms are very common near Hilo, Hawaii and along the scenic Hamakua Coast and has become naturalized in Hawaii.
As our summers here in Washington State grow hotter each year, there just might be hope to cultivate one of these beauties here in our climate in the near future. If there’s frost below 26 degrees F where you live, it’s unfortunate that this beautiful Palm can’t handle it and will die.
Keeping a Palm Tree from Growing Tall
The only way to keep a palm from growing tall is to choose a naturally small palm tree species, the availability of a specific palm may vary in your area. If you top the tree, it will eventually die just vigorously pruning the roots, consider choosing a smaller species.