Currently 70cm high - An Australian rainforest native that is the southernmost growing fan palm. It grows naturally along the eastern coast from Qld to Victoria. Known as daranggara to Eora people.
A very popular hardy landscaping plant. It is a solitary, tall palm with a slender grey trunk and a crown of large deep green shiny fanshaped fronds about 4m long. Massed cream flowers are followed by black fruits. Beautiful when young with upright fan fronds coming out from the ground, lovely when mature with the points of the fans drooping in a weeping habit.
The Cabbage Tree Palm occurs in open forest, often in swampy sites and on margins of rainforests.
Moderate growth rate.
Uses:
The young and tender unfolded leaves are eaten like cabbages. The young leaf buds at the top of the plant are also edible but, since the plants are unable to produce side-shoots, this kills the plant. The Aboriginal people of the Sydney area use the leaves as roof thatch and for weaving baskets. They also used the fibrous bark to make fishing lines. In Cape York, shallow bag-like nets are made from the bark fibres.
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