the genus
LIVISTONA

In honor of Patrick Murray, Baron of Livingston

Synonymns:African & Arabian species of Livistona were formerly segregated in the genus Wissmannia
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Tribe: Corypheae
Subtribe: Livistoninae

The subfamily includes 12 genera such as Acoelorraphe, Brahea, Copernicia, Licuala, Pritchardia, Serenoa, etc.

Livistona is a wide-ranging genus of fan-leafed palms with about 30 species distributed from northern Africa through India, China, Southeast Asia, to the Phillipines and Ryukyu Islands, with several species in Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. Many of these palms have excellent tolerance to cold and frost. Although most varieties enjoy moisture, they are also fairly tolerant of drought when established. The long smooth trunks flare attractively at the base and carry gracefully weeping crowns of foliage, making Livistona especially impressive palms for streets and gardens. Although the commonly planted Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) and Australian Fountain Palm (L. australis) grow slowly to tree size, other popular species like the Ribbon Fan Palm (L. decipiens) and Taraw Palm (L. saribus) rank among the fastest growing garden palms, quickly maturing into large trees. Livistona produce large grape-like clusters of fruits, often attractively tinted blue
or jade green.

Culture: Livistona palms accept sun or shade and many varieties will tolerate damp soils or flooding; they grow slowly in dry areas.

Livistona australis
Common Name: Australian Fountain Palm
Cold Tolerance: 20F (-7C) USDA Zones: 9-11

Typical Height: 40' Growth Rate: Slow
Habit: Solitary

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 3–100gal. B&B

Livistona chinensis
Common Name: Chinese Fan Palm
Cold Tolerance: 17F (-8C) USDA Zones: 9-11

Typical Height: 15' Growth Rate: Slow
Habit: Solitary

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 3–200gal. B&B gal. 1’–15’CT

Livistona decipiens
Common Name: Ribbon Fan Palm
Cold Tolerance: 18F (-8C) USDA Zones: 9-11

Typical Height: 30' Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Habit: Solitary

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 3–200gal. B&B 1’–15’CT

Livistona fulva
Common Name: Blackdown Tableland Palm
Cold Tolerance: 18F (-8C) USDA Zones: 9-11

Typical Height: 25' Growth Rate: Slow
Habit: Solitary

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 1–25gal.

Livistona saribus
Common Name: Taraw Palm
Cold Tolerance: 18F (-8C) USDA Zones: 9-11
The green petiole base form of Livistona saribus is more cold hardy the the maroon petiole base form.

Typical Height: 60' Growth Rate: Moderate
Habit: Solitary

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 3–65gal. B&B 4’–16’CT

Other Species of Livistona:
L. drudei, L. jenkinsiana, L. mariae , L. nitida, L. rigida
(all occasionally available)

Note: Livistona boninensis, a new discovery of Australia’s John Dowe, is the most cold hardy of all the Livistonas. Occuring on the island of Aoshima, Japan, as its northernmost limit of regeneration, this will only be available as seedlings for the next few years.