Laccospadix australasicus

Atherton Palm

Although not a rare palm in its native habitat--montane rainforests in northeastern Queensland, Australia between 800 and 1600 m (2600 and 5200 ft.)-- 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. It has a slender, solitary or sometimes clustering stem that carries a small, upright crown of finely pinnate, dark green leaves. The flower stalk is unbranched and carries many small, bright red fruits. Laccospadix does not look unlike a small Howea, and indeed the two are closely related.

(read all testimonials here)

germination comments by our visitors
For general germination instructions click here.

Also see plant cultivation comments below.

Seeds from this species ...

... are average to germinate and need up to 6 months to sprout.
This species is common in montane rainforests of Australias Wet Tropics, which are an extremely contrasting habitat to that of the rest of Australia. The habitats receives between 3000mm-8000mm (8 metres) of rain per year and are often shrouded in cloud- hence the common name Atherton Mist Palm. It is similar in appearance to Howea forsteriana from Lord Howe Island, however recent genetic research has shown a significant difference between these two genera. It grows well in semi shade within the tropics, however the crowns of mature plants can tolerate full sun. A single or clumped form exists and additionally some plants produce a red new-leaf similar to some species of Calyptrocalyx which it is sometimes wrongly referred as. Overall a neat palm for milder climates.
Submitted on 01/12/2006 by Kris Kupsch tropicalbotanics@hotmail.com

... are very easy to germinate and need up to 3 months to sprout.
Close to 100% germination rate. Used baggy method placed above the hot water tank (25-30c). Subsequently slow but tough.
Submitted on 28/03/2006 by one of our visitors

win € 50 worth of seeds

by writing a germination comment about how to germinate the seeds of this species. Click here!

plant cultivation comments by our visitors
Also see germination commnets above.

Plants from this species ...

... have not yet been commented on. Be the first to write a comment:

win € 75 worth of seeds

by writing a plant cultivation comment about how to cultivate the plants of this species. Click here!

If you wish to read more on palm cultivation, we highly recommend Ornamental Palm Horticulture by Timothy K. Broschat and Alan W. Meerow, available in our bookshop.

Ratings and comments reflect individual experiences and the views of our visitors. They do not necessarily describe the most appropriate methods, nor are they necessarily valid for all seeds or plants of this species. Germination and plant cultivation success depends on many different factors; nevertheless, these experiences will hopefully aid you in your effort to get the best germination results from our seeds and the best growth results from your plants.

We recommend:

The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms
by Robert Lee Riffle, Paul Craft, Scott Zona

2nd edition
Completely revised and updated
Hardcover - 528 pages
11 x 8.5 inches

Our rating:

Suitable for: all

The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms is the definitive account of all palms that can be grown for ornamental and economic use. Palms are often underutilized as a result of their unfamiliarity—even to tropical gardeners. To help introduce these valuable plants to a new audience, the authors have exhaustively documented every genus in the palm family.
825 species are described in detail, including cold hardiness, water needs, height, and any special requirements. Generously illustrated with more than 900 photos, including photos of several palm species that have never before appeared in a general encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms is as valuable as an identification guide as it is a practical handbook. Interesting snippets of history, ethnobotany, and biology inform the text and make this a lively catalog of these remarkable plants.

Available at the following book shops:

Other selected books are available in our Book Shop