Archontophoenix alexandrae - Alexandra Palm

The Archontophoenix alexandrae, better known as the Alexandra Palm or Royal Palm of Australia, is a very beautiful species that is extensively grown in tropical areas, but quite difficult to find in nurseries. It is appreciated for the elegance of its habit and the beauty of its large majestic fronds, which are bright green on the upper side, revealing a very bright grey underside. It is not very hardy and can only be grown in the ground in frost-free climates, but performs very well in containers in a bright interior or conservatory, where it forms an extremely decorative plant throughout the year. This palm will enjoy spending the summer outdoors, on the terrace or in the garden.

Archontophoenix alexandrae belongs to the family of aracaceae. It is native to northeastern Australia, specifically the tropical forests of Queensland, where it grows in intermittently wet and dry plains. Its trunk, called a stipe, is solitary, swollen at the base, smooth, light grey to green in the upper part, with green rings that are the remnants of old petioles. It can reach a height of 30 m (98 ft 5 in) in the ground in its natural habitat, about 5 m (16 ft 5 in) under our latitudes, but will remain much smaller in containers. At the top of this stipe, a crown formed of large palmate leaves called fronds, develops. These are arched, divided into a large number of tough and glossy leaflets or pinnules. Their colour is a bright green on the upper side and grey-green on the underside. Each leaf, which can reach a length of 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in), is slightly pendulous at its end and carried by a long petiole. The Alexandra Palm can be recognised by the tender green colour that coats the basal sheathing part of its fronds. Flowering occurs in summer, in the form of branched and dense inflorescences that emerge under the crown of leaves, with a different appearance depending on whether they are male or female. Male inflorescences are shorter and somewhat reminiscent of brooms. Female inflorescences are 60 cm (23.6 in) long, pendulous, adorned with small white flowers tinged with violet. These small flowers are followed by non-edible but decorative ovoid fruits, bright red when ripe, measuring 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter.

The Alexandra Palm, an excellent addition to an exotic garden, grows quickly if it has enough water and nutrients. It tolerates container cultivation well and makes a superb indoor plant for spacious bright entrances, conservatories, and temperate greenhouses. It can sometimes be difficult to pair with other plants due to its strong personality. During the summer, reserve a corner by a pool or on a terrace for it and place Phormiums, Cannas, or even Colocasias next to it, for example.