Livistona mariae - Central Australian fan Palm

Livistona mariae, sometimes called the fan palm, stands out from other representatives of the genus Livistona due to its intense reddish colouration, almost metallic, observed only on the foliage of juvenile specimens. This characteristic makes it a highly sought-after indoor plant by collectors who cannot accommodate this rather cold-sensitive species in their garden. An adult specimen, when planted in the ground, is quite impressive: standing on a sturdier trunk than that of other livistona, straight and upright, it bears an elegant crown of slightly trailing fan-shaped leaves, shiny on the top and almost white on the underside. Not demanding in terms of soil, this very beautiful species enjoys sunlight and heat and is resistant to drought once established.

Livistona mariae is native to a very small region located in the centre of the Australian Northern Territory. This old species, probably very ancient, was undoubtedly more widespread at a time when the climate was wetter. It is now confined to a desert area called Palm Valley, where it survives along the dry riverbed. It survives there thanks to the presence of underground water, which its developed root system manages to reach. The cold resistance of an adult plant is estimated at -6°C (21.2 °F) for short periods. In nature, the plant reaches about 20m (65 ft 7 in) in height and 9m (29 ft 6 in) in width. In climates, which are mild enough to accommodate it in the ground, it will have more modest dimensions, around 15m (49 ft 2 in) in height. If grown in a container, it will hardly develop a trunk and will probably not exceed 2m (6 ft 7 in) in height and 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) in width. Like all palms, this Livistona belongs to the family of Arecaceae.

Livistona mariae exhibits slow growth, slightly faster in moist soil. It develops a single trunk, dilated at the base, greyish, vertically fissured, covered with rings that are leaf scars and, in its basal part, with remnants of old petioles. The base of the petioles gradually transforms into a kind of coarse cream-coloured felting that surrounds the trunk. At the tip of this trunk, a fan-shaped crown composed of palmate leaves develops. They are almost circular, slightly wavy, and measure 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) to 2.50m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter. They are glossy grey-green on the top, and the underside is coated with a waxy film that gives them a very light hue. Each leaf is divided at its tip into 50 to 80 thin and rigid segments, which are further divided into two more or less trailing sub-segments at their tip. The long petiole that connects the leaf lamina to the trunk is arched or erect, measuring 1.5m (4 ft 11 in) to 2.20m (7 ft 2 in) in length, and yellowish-green. The lower half of each petiole is equipped with reddish-brown spines. Flowering occurs in summer, on mature subjects and in favourable climates. It takes the form of long highly branched inflorescences that arise between the leaves. They measure 1 to 2m (3 ft 4 in to 6 ft 7 in) in length and are cream-white to yellow. After pollination, rounded fruits form, measuring 1.2 to 1.6cm (0.5 to 0.6 in) in diameter, which change from green to red and then black when ripe. Each fruit contains only one round seed.

This palm tree can only be planted in the ground in sunny and warm gardens sheltered from the wind, in the most sheltered areas. It deserves a prominent place, isolated on a lawn, or in front of a large shrub group that will protect it from the wind. When planted in a large pot or container, it forms a superb green plant, with a striking red colour when young, which will uniquely adorn the terrace or balcony during the summer, and then the conservatory or heated greenhouse in winter. It is sometimes difficult to associate, due to its strong personality: reserve for it a corner of a swimming pool and associate it, for example, with Fargesia bamboos, sculptural, and colorful Phormiums, Cordylines, and Hakonechloa macra Aureola, an easy-to-maintain ground cover with a beautiful orange colour in autumn.