Why will I love it?
Licuala grandis is a spectacular and extremely rare palm. Its large, shiny, undivided and pleated leaves look like the work of an origami master. They’re so hard to find that you’re more likely to see one on Instagram than in a plant shop – and they start at around £200.
Light or shade?
Partial shade.
Where should I put it?
Stand in a slightly shady area of your front room.
How do I keep it alive?
On the Solomon and Vanuatu islands, the ruffled palms grow low to the ground and are shaded by a canopy of luscious rainforest giants, so it’s good to replicate that at home by placing them in a shaded area: direct sunlight will brown their leaves. Water infrequently, allow the topsoil to dry out between watering, and use fertiliser once a month during the growing season. It loves high humidity and warmth, a reminder of its rainforest roots, so mist often and keep the room between 18C and 24C.
Did you know …
It is a very slow-growing palm, gaining just 5-7cm a year, but can eventually reach up to three metres in height (though usually closer to two metres when in a pot).
