Livistona benthamii - Bentham's Fan Palm

Livistona benthamii is a palm tree native to the humid tropical zones of the South Pacific, much less known than its close relatives Livistona australis and L. decora, which are more commonly planted by collectors and in botanic gardens. While it resembles them in terms of habit and foliage, it distinguishes itself by its smaller size and the appearance of its trunk, on which the remnants of old petioles persist for a long time. A tall and slender trunk of light brown, topped with a generous crown of large, almost circular, very bright green, palmate leaves with trailing ends are the assets of this highly decorative plant in an exotic Mediterranean garden, in a very mild climate. Elsewhere, this palm tree can be planted in a large container that is protected in winter in a cold greenhouse or in a large conservatory. The Livistona benthamii thrives in cool, deep, and rich soil.

Livistoni benthamii (synonyms Livistona holtzei and Livistona melanocarpa) is native to Australia, specifically the Northern Territories and Queensland, as well as the southern part of New Guinea. This species can be found in humid and marshy forests, along mangroves, lagoons, and rivers, at low altitudes. In its natural habitat, the plant can reach an average height of 18m (59 ft 1 in) with a width of 7m. In climates mild enough to accommodate it in the ground, it will adapt but remain smaller in size, especially since it will not have the very humid conditions it prefers. If grown in a container, its growth will be significantly reduced.

Bentham's Fan Palm develops a single, pale brown trunk, showing vertical cracks, with rings that are leaf scars. Near the base of this false trunk, remnants of old petioles accumulate, measuring 50 to 60 cm (19.7 to 23.6 in) in length, almost horizontal. At the top of this trunk, a crown composed of large, palmate leaves develops. These almost circular leaves are wavy, measuring 80cm (31.5 in) to 1.5m (4 ft 11 in) in length, divided into 60 to 80 segments joined at the base. Each segment is divided into two subsegments, with slightly diverging and trailing ends. The leaves are intensely green, shiny on the upper side, and slightly paler on the lower side. Each leaf is carried by a petiole of 1.40m (4 ft 7 in) to 2m (6 ft 7 in) in length, pale green with reddish-brown reflections, equipped with some dark and curved spines. The base of the petioles is almost concealed by a fibrous mass that surrounds the top of the trunk.

Flowering occurs in summer, in the form of branched panicles of cream to yellowish flowers. This palm tree is partially hermaphroditic, with flowers that bear both male reproductive organs, the stamens, and female organs, the pistils fairly regularly. The fruits are generally ovoid, measuring about 9mm (0.4 in) to 1.1cm (0.4 in) in length and 1cm (0.4 in) in diameter, blackish when ripe, containing only one globular brown seed.

The behaviour of Livistona benthamii in our mildest climates is still poorly understood, even by professionals. When planted in the ground, this palm tree deserves a prominent place, isolated on a lawn or in front of a large shrub group that will protect it from strong winds and intense sunlight. It requires space to fully express its beauty and grows quickly if it has an adequate water and nutrient supply. It seems to tolerate container cultivation, where it becomes a superb green plant for the terrace, conservatory, or temperate greenhouse. It can sometimes be difficult to associate due to its strong personality: reserve a corner of a pool for it and combine it with architectural, simple, and colourful Phormiums, and Hakonechloa macra Aureola, an easy-to-care-for ground cover with beautiful orange colour in autumn.