James Burghardt
Family
Arecaceae
Botanical Name
ARCHONTOPHOENIX alexandrae
Plant Common Name
Alex Palm, Alexandra Palm, Princess Alexandra Palm
General Description
Stately, tall, beautiful and fast growing, Alexandra palm, named in honor of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, lends a tropical look to the landscape. It is native to the coastal rainforest of northeastern Australia and is much planted in tropical regions around the world. The solitary palm has a slender, gray trunk, swollen base and ringed with leaf scars. The large, feather-like leaves are light green above, distinctively silver-white below with many, pointed leaflets which clasp together to form an area between the trunk and leaves which is smooth and variable in color from bright green to purple or red hued. The white to purple flowers form on pendulous, branched stalks at the area between the leaves and trunk. Red, round fruit follow.
Graceful and freeze tender, this water-loving palm is lovely planted singly or in groups. The best soil is moist, well-drained, though wet locations are tolerated and has some organic matter. It grows better if water is available during droughts. Alexandra palm will grow in full sun to part shade and is prone to nutrient deficiencies. Fertilize regularly with a complete product containing micro-elements. A beautiful palm, it will adapt to containers but requires very bright light if grown indoors.
Alexandra palm is a popular landscape specimen but is difficult to transplant; the bud must be protected when moving – it tends to shatter with even slightly rough handling. This palm has escaped cultivation in Hawaii where it is invading moist to wet native habitats. Use this palm in sub-tropical to tropical landscapes for accent, specimen planting, street tree and to impart a feeling of the tropics.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 10
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 14
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Palm or Cycad
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
20'-80' / 6.1m - 24.4m
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Width
15'-25' / 4.6m - 7.6m
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
Australia
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Yellow, Lavender
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Fruit Color
Red
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Silver
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Silver
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Silver
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Silver
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Bark Color
Gray, Silver
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Bold
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
Yes
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Street Trees, Tropical, Water Gardens
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Self-Sowing
Yes