Winston

Livistona rotundifolia

• Winston likes...
  • 
    Medium light

    He’s happiest in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight. He can tolerate light shade but doesn’t love it.

  • 
    Regular watering

    He likes his soil moist, so water him when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Don’t let him dry out completely.

  • 
    Humidity

    Avoid crispy edges by keeping the air moist. Misting every couple of days should be enough.

• Quick facts

  BOTANICAL NAME

  Livistona rotundifolia

  COMMON NAME

  Table palm; Footstool palm; Fan palm

  PLANT TYPE

  Palm, indoor

  PLANT HEIGHT (INCLUDING POT)

  80-90cm

  PET/BABY SAFE?

  Not toxic, but spiky

  NURSERY POT SIZE

  21cm

• About table palm

  This plant’s broad, fan-shaped leaves earned it the nickname table palm. It’s a good choice if you like the exotic palm look but are limited on space. It’s a very slow grower, so it won’t take up a lot of room.

  The table palm – or livistona rotundifolia if you’re feeling fancy – is native to Southeast Asia. Wild ones look a little different to the domestic version, growing to enormous heights, sometimes over 20 metres. In your home, it will stay far more compact. Keep it happy by putting it in a spot that’s bright, but out of direct sun, and water it regularly to keep its soil lightly moist. Misting regularly is also a good idea, to stop the ends of its leaves drying out.

  It will grow very slowly, but you can help it on its way by giving it a dose ofliquid fertiliseronce a month in spring and summer. It won’t reach 20 metres, though, thankfully.

  Please be aware that its stems are a little spiky, so it’s best kept out of reach of small children.