Hawaiian Fan Palm

Pritchardia hillebrandii

Synonyms: Loulu Lelo Palm, Molokai Fan Palm, Pritchardia insignis, Styloma hillebrandii, Styloma insignis, Washingtonia hillebrandii.

Hawaiian Fan Palm, or Pritchardia hillebrandii, is one of the best fan palm for Brisbane gardens. Broad and elegant, yet small enough to suit most suburban backyards. Unlike alternatives such as Livistona palms, this species is also thornless! Tolerates the cold very well (as long as frost free) and can grow happily in full sun.

Fan palms can be problematic because they have such a large footprint, especially while young and the leaves can droop down to touch the ground. Hawaiian Fan Palm is more manageable in this sense, with a footprint of only 3x3m. Eventually the plant will grow tall (up to around 5m) where the drooping leaves won’t be a problem.

Hawaiian Fan Palm suffers few pests and disease issues. It may attract mealybugs and scale during warmer weather. Some winter damage may be experienced in some suburbs, but the plants survive just fine.