PlantFiles: Sand Palm
Livistona humilis

In it's habitat this palm is subject to a hot wet season followed by a hot dry season. Wet season it's often subject to extended periods of waterlogging from a high watertable. Dry season temps are consistently around 32 - 33C, with cooler nights averaging around 15C or higher.

During the build-up (transition between wet/dry seasons) temperatures are often up to the low 40's and sun intense (UV index 16). It's usually this time of year it flowers, although sometimes it's intermittent throughout.

It usually grows in sandy soil but ranges from seepage areas near creeks, through tropical woodland as well as up into sandstone escarpment country. It does well in poor soil and is adversely affected by high content phosphorus soil/fertilizer. Germination is slow, as is growth.

Inflorescences are long, extending beyond the crown, flowers a creamy/yellowish colour. The fruits are black when ripe and are a favourite with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.

Seedlings develop a very long tap root and don't like this being disturbed. They will develop in low light conditions (filtered sunlight) but prefer full sun .

The adult palms are fire tolerant and will immediately start to produce new fronds if the old ones are burned off or badly scorched. They also grow over to 10 metres tall, don't expect it in your life time.

Sort of a touchy palm for us here in Southern California, but does well in relatively cool climates in Florida (takes frost but can't handle prolonged 'cool'). Smaller Livistona with stiff rather than floppy leaves. Flowers at only 2-3' of trunk height. Flower stalks shoot far above crown of palm. Has a bit thicker trunk and more robust than Livistona inermis, but is probably the second smallest Livistona species (Australian native).