PLNTversePLNTverse
Plants › Palms & cycads

Ruffled Fan Leaf Palm (Licuala grandis)

Licuala grandis is reported to be a small, single-trunked fan palm with a slender, nearly tubular trunk and a dense, rounded crown of leaves. It is reported to be an evergreen perennial.

LightPartial sun, bright shade, or filtered light is preferred; young plants favor shade, established plants can tolerate more sun, and some sources also list full sun as suitable.
WaterSources differ on watering details: water regularly and maintain consistent moisture, allowing the surface of the growing medium to dry slightly before watering again; moist conditions are preferred, prolonged dryness sh
HumidityLicuala grandis is reported to prefer high humidity and to need little air movement.
TemperatureSources differ on the reported hardiness zone. The few available sources report a minimum temperature of about -1 °C. It is reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing.
Track your Ruffled Fan Leaf Palm in the PLNTverse app
Ruffled Fan Leaf Palm illustration

Overview

Licuala grandis is reported to be a small, single-trunked fan palm with a slender, nearly tubular trunk and a dense, rounded crown of leaves. It is reported to be an evergreen perennial.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range, describing it as extending from the Solomon Islands to Vanuatu. It is reported from the understory of tropical rainforest, beneath the canopy in both primary and secondary forest. It is reported to be adapted to warm, humid tropical conditions and to prefer partially shaded understory conditions.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, with the few available sources indicating about 200–300 cm. The few available sources report a mature spread of about 152.4–304.8 cm. Growth is reported to be slow to very slow. The leaves are reported to be large, nearly round to rounded fan-shaped, glossy dark green, and almost undivided, with shallowly lobed margins; the leaf segments are V-shaped and have a small terminal notch that forms paired teeth. Sources differ in their descriptions of the flowers; they are bisexual, while a German source describes them as yellow and borne on drooping, branched inflorescences. The fruit is reported to be small and nearly spherical, green when unripe and red to red-orange when mature, with a seed inside; a German source additionally describes mature fruit as glossy, crimson, and drupe-like in appearance.

Light

Partial sun, bright shade, or filtered light is preferred; young plants favor shade, established plants can tolerate more sun, and some sources also list full sun as suitable.

Watering

Sources differ on watering details: water regularly and maintain consistent moisture, allowing the surface of the growing medium to dry slightly before watering again; moist conditions are preferred, prolonged dryness should be avoided, and potted plants should receive less water in winter.

Humidity and airflow

Licuala grandis is reported to prefer high humidity and to need little air movement.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ on the reported hardiness zone. The few available sources report a minimum temperature of about -1 °C. It is reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing.

Growing medium and mounting

A loose, fertile, well-drained soil or growing medium that retains moderate moisture is suitable.

Feeding

A balanced fertilizer suitable for palms or citrus is reported to be usable; the source also recommends regular feeding for plants in the ground and more frequent feeding for potted plants during active growth.

Propagation

Licuala grandis is reported to be propagated by seed, with germination beginning after a period following sowing and abundant seed produced annually.

Common problems

Excessively dry growing medium or hot, intense direct sunlight may cause the plant to perform poorly. It is sensitive to cold and frost; freezing, cold winter winds, and strong winds should be avoided, and a protected position is preferred.

Identification

Its most conspicuous reported feature is the very large, nearly complete, rounded, pleated-looking, glossy dark green fan leaves in proportion to the slender trunk.

Photos

Licuala grandis
📷 Daderot · Public domain · source

Sources