Grow Me Instead Grow Me Instead
Skip Navigation Links

Cotton Palm

Cotton Palm
Photo: Norwood Industries
Invasive Plant
Cotton Palm
Washingtonia robusta
 

This tall growing palm is native to Mexico. It can reach 15-20 metres in height and has large fan like fronds with remnant threads of foliage that appear like ‘cotton’ hanging from between frond segments. It is not self cleaning and holds old fronds on the trunk which must be removed manually.

 

HOW IT SPREADS

  • This palm is not native to Australia and the berries are distributed by wildlife, particularly birds, and large stands are becoming more common
  • The plant must not be planted near environmentally sensitive areas as it will escape and invade adjacent natural systems
 
 
Grow Me Instead
 

Other superior selections include;

  • Livistona drudei - Cabbage Tree Palm
  • Livistona decora - Weeping Cabbage Tree Palm

Ask your local retailer for more superior selections

 

Alternative Plants

Cabbage Palm
Photo: Lorna Rose
Alternative Plant 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.

Carnarvon Fan Palm
Photo: Craig Eddie - Boobook Images
Alternative Plant Carnarvon Fan Palm
Livistona nitida
Trees and Shrubs
 

This tall stately fan palm will grow to 30 metres in height but is normally shorter in cultivated situations. Native to the region around Carnarvon Gorge and Isla Gorge it will grow in variable soil conditions and is drought and frost tolerant. It has bright green deeply divided leaves that droop down completing an open and rounded crown.

Foxtail Palm
Photo: Norwood
Alternative Plant Foxtail Palm
Wodyetia bifurcata
Trees and Shrubs
 

Spectacular palm from North Queensland and worldwide best seller. Large 2.5m long plumose fronds of dark green emerge from the slightly bottle shaped clean trunk. The fruit are reddish orange, plentiful and large (6cm). This is a self cleaning palm that sheds old foliage.

 
Grow Me Instead