King Palm
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Also listed as Jessenia amazonum, Loroma amethystina
Also known as Bangalow Palm, Piccabeen Palm, Picabeen Palm
Climate Match for your location
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A tropical palm tree with an elegant single trunk and feathery green fronds that creates a lush, tropical appearance. Best grown in warm climates and makes an excellent specimen or landscape plant.
Why grow it
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana offers a more cold-tolerant alternative to many tropical palms, surviving brief freezes to the mid-20s Fahrenheit, which extends its range beyond purely tropical zones. Its single, clean trunk and relatively compact mature height (25-40 feet) make it more manageable for residential landscapes than larger canopy palms, while the feathery fronds provide fine textural contrast to broad-leaved tropical plants.
Watch out for
This palm prefers consistent moisture and can decline in extended drought without supplemental irrigation, particularly in sandy soils. Young plants benefit from afternoon shade in intense heat, and crown rot can develop if soil drainage is poor or if the growing point is repeatedly wetted.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Arecaceae
Native Range
Australia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tropical palm tree with an elegant single trunk and feathery green fronds that creates a lush, tropical appearance. Best grown in warm climates and makes an excellent specimen or landscape plant.
Climate Match for your location
See how well King Palm grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana offers a more cold-tolerant alternative to many tropical palms, surviving brief freezes to the mid-20s Fahrenheit, which extends its range beyond purely tropical zones. Its single, clean trunk and relatively compact mature height (25-40 feet) make it more manageable for residential landscapes than larger canopy palms, while the feathery fronds provide fine textural contrast to broad-leaved tropical plants.
Watch out for
This palm prefers consistent moisture and can decline in extended drought without supplemental irrigation, particularly in sandy soils. Young plants benefit from afternoon shade in intense heat, and crown rot can develop if soil drainage is poor or if the growing point is repeatedly wetted.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Arecaceae
Native Range
Australia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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