Alexendra Palm, Princess Alexandra Palm, King Alexander Palm

Archontophoenix alexandrae (F. J. Muell.) H. Wendl. & Drude

ark-on-tow-FEE-nix   ah-lex-AN-dree

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: Archontophoenix comes from Greek, archi, chief, and phoenix, a palm (JON). Alexandrae honors Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925) (RI2).

Natural range: Queensland, Australia

Lowland swamp forests, and sometimes at higher elevations (JON)

Recognition: Stiff, pinnate-leaved palm with swollen base, light green (to reddish) crownshaft. Leaf blades tending to twist orienting some leaflets vertically, these ribbed, and silvery on the undersides. Flowers creamy white. Fruits red to orange.

Majesty Palm (Ravenea sp.) is similarly stiff with twisted leaves and a swollen base, but is smaller, has no crownshaft, and its leaflets are not silvery below.

Hurricane Palm (Dictyosperma) likewise has twisted leaves but has waxy scales covering the crownshaft, dark-colored fruits, acuminate (vs. acute) leaflets not silver-gray beneath, reddish-yellow (vs. white) male flowers, and particularly conspicuous young leaf spears. Its leaves tend to have long marginal reins.

Piccabeen Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) differs from A. alexandrae by having a less swollen base, leaflets that are neither strongly ribbed nor silvery beneath, coppery or bronzed young foliage, and purplish (vs. white) flowers.

Key to Single-Trunked Palms with Strongly Twisted Pinnate Leaves

1. Crownshaft absent…Majesty Palm (Ravenea sp.)

1. Crownshaft present…2

2. Crownshaft covered with waxy scales; male flowers often reddish yellow (may be creamy); fruits purplish-black; leaflet tips acuminate (long-tapered to a narrow tip, the margins a little concave)…Hurricane Palm (Dictyosperma album) (Note additionally: leaf spear especially conspicuous, trunk with vertical fissures and closely spaced rings, frequent long marginal reins)

2. Crownshaft smooth; flowers white, yellowish, or purple; fruits reddish; leaf tips usually acute (shaped like a dagger blade) or if long-pointed with the margins straight…3

3. Leaflets strongly ribbed, silver-gray beneath; flowers white or creamy…King Alexander Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) (usually with a strongly swollen base)

3. Leaflets not strongly ribbed, green beneath; flowers violet or purple…Piccabeen Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)

Landscape uses: A single-trunked, fast-growing specimen palm best placed sufficiently isolated to show off its stately demeanor. According to MEE, not particularly salt-tolerant, nor drought-tolerant, and reputed (MEE, BA2) to transplant poorly from field settings. BA2 and JON note use in tubs, but RI2 states that its need for air circulation, bright light (except when young) and high humidity make this species poor for indoor use. According to MEE, ‘Mt. Lewis’ has a brownish-red crownshaft, and ‘Kuranda’ has an especially broad trunk. JON, RI2, and BA2 mention var. beatricae with a stepped trunk. ELL reports 4-8 weeks for germination.