Practical
Plants

Livistona australis

Cabbage Palm

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Livistona genus in the family Palmae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Palmae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
20 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young unfolded leaves - raw or cooked[11][12][6]. The young and tender leaves are eaten like cabbages[8]. The young leaf buds are often used but, since the plants are unable to produce side-shoots, this effectively kills the plant[2][3].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are used for thatching and making hats[12][2]. They are large and fibrous and can also be used for making baskets, bags, nets etc[4].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Thatching
Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
Australia - Victoria.
Habitat
Moist sheltered localities, usually near the coast[3], especially in eucalyptus forests[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow in early spring in a warm greenhouse, using deep containers in order to avoid root constriction and plating two seeds in each container[9]. The seed of this species has a longer viability than that of most palms[9]. If necessary, thin the seedlings to the best plant and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least two years. If trying them outdoors, plant them out in the summer and give them some protection from the cold for their first few winters.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a sheltered position in a fertile moist but well-drained soil that is preferably neutral to acid[7][10]. Although plants prefer a deep moist soil, they can also succeed in dry climates[10]. Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[7]. Plants naturally grow in forest habitats and, especially when young, require some shade from the sun for at least part of the day[10]. This species is not very hardy in Britain where it usually requires greenhouse protection[1]. Plants are hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[5], though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens because of our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. Plants have been known to tolerate temperatures down to at least 0°c for short periods[9], they are also very amenable to pot cultivation and can be grown successfully in containers for many years[5]. Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[10]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[10]. Palms can also be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[10]. Plants are slow-growing[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-00-216441-8

    ↩1↩2

  5. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩1↩2

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. McMillan-Browse. P. Palms for Cooler Climates. Trebah Enterprises. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0 9521952 0 8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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