Cocos palm


Photo: Macbird Floraprint		Cocos palm Syagrus romanzoffianum Trees and Shrubs New South Wales Region

	Popular as an inexpensive, fast growing palm often used in new gardens. Their over-use has created a blot on the landscape and the environment. Growing up to 12m tall, their stems can give the appearance of a garden planted with telegraph poles

HOW IT SPREADS They produce a multitude of seed attractive to larger birds, possums and bats, through which the spread is accomplished. Seeds are quick to germinate and plants are well established by the time they become visible in the bush. Removal is difficult and expensive. Seeds also move through storm water channels and drains to germinate many miles from the original plant.

What you can do If you own this palm try to remove as many seeds and seedling plants as possible. Better still, choose from the alternative palms listed here to replace existing Cocos palms

Alternative Plants


Photo: Lorna Rose		Alexander Palm Archontophoenix alexandrae Trees and Shrubs

	Smooth, pale-green shafts at the base of feathery, drooping fronds, slightly grey on the under sides. The stem shows rings of leaf scars. From north Qld and best suited to warm zones. Grows between 10- 15m high.

Photo: Lorna Rose		Bangalow Palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Trees and Shrubs

	This 10m palm has distinct silvery undersides to the large feather-shaped fronds. As a rain forest palm it is best suited to warm, frost-free zones. Smooth stem with close, horizontal leaf scars. Seeds attract lorikeets to the garden.

Photo: Lorna Rose		Cabbage Palm Livistona australis Trees and Shrubs

	This native palm has fanshaped leaves and generally a smooth trunk. It is native throughout coastal areas and into East Gippsland. Remnant trees, sometimes as much as 30 metres high, can often be seen in gullies in cleared paddocks on the coast.