tropical

Bentham's Fan Palm

The Story

Plant Bio

Livistona benthamii, commonly known as Bentham's fan palm, is a single-stemmed tropical palm native to northern Australia and parts of New Guinea. It develops a dense, rounded crown of glossy green, costapalmate leaves with gracefully drooping tips atop a straight trunk that retains its old petiole bases.

This species is distinguished by its heavily armed, greenish-yellow petioles lined with prominent, curved black spines. It is highly adapted to seasonally wet environments, tolerating waterlogged soils and high humidity far better than most other fan palms.

Uses & Benefits:

Provides a dramatic, tropical architectural focal point with its dense crown of weeping fronds and persistent, stepped trunk stubs.

Thrives in wet, poorly drained, or seasonally inundated soils where other ornamental trees fail to establish.

Insects visit the cream-colored flowers for pollination, while the dense canopy offers shelter for local wildlife.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tropical

Height

708"

Width

1181"

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

Water

High

Humidity

High

Lifespan

Long-lived

Native To

Oceania (Northern Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia)

Toxicity

Non-toxic (but features extremely sharp spines)

Bloom period

Spring – Summer

In flower about 6 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Select a planting site with rich, organic-heavy soil that receives partial shade when young, transitioning to full sun as the palm matures.
Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and set the palm at the same depth it was growing in its container.
Water deeply and regularly to maintain consistent soil moisture, especially during the active spring and summer growing seasons.
Apply a balanced, slow-release palm fertilizer containing essential micronutrients twice a year during the warm months.

Pro Tip

When growing in containers, use deep pots to accommodate the long initial taproot, and avoid overwatering during cooler months to prevent damping-off.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Prune only completely dead or withered brown fronds to preserve the natural stepped trunk structure.
Provide high humidity and regular moisture to mimic its native seasonal monsoon habitat.
Protect young specimens from freezing temperatures below 32°F (0°C).

Don't

Do not cut into green leaf tissue or attempt to shave the persistent petiole stubs from the trunk.
Do not allow container-grown specimens to sit in stagnant, poorly drained water in temperate climates.
Do not harvest the edible apical bud, as removing this single growing point will kill the palm.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Pest Check
Prune
Winter Prep

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Specimen PlantingRain GardensBog GardensCoastal GardensContainer Specimen

Companion Plants

Alocasia odora Colocasia esculenta Cyathea cooperi

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Bentham's Fan Palm questions

What zones can Bentham's Fan Palm grow in?

Bentham's Fan Palm is hardy in USDA Zone 10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Bentham's Fan Palm deer resistant?

Yes — Bentham's Fan Palm is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Bentham's Fan Palm bloom?

Bentham's Fan Palm typically blooms in spring through summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Bentham's Fan Palm need full sun?

Bentham's Fan Palm does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.