Palm
Ribbon Palm
Livistona decora · Arecaceae
Also called: Australian Fan Palm, Ribbon Fan Palm, Weeping Cabbage Palm, Livistona decipiens (synonym)
Ribbon Palm (Livistona decora) is a moderate-water palm well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun to part shade.
Ribbon Palm at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade. In Tucson, afternoon or filtered shade and a non-reflective location help prevent frond burn; young plants especially benefit from some protection from intense low-desert sun.
- Mature size
- Typically 30-40 ft tall (to ~50 ft) and 10-15 ft wide, with a slender trunk and graceful weeping crown
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast (fast for a fan palm with adequate water)
- Bloom
- Creamy-white to yellowish flowers on branched stalks; followed by small reddish to black fruit, Summer; fruit in late summer to fall
- Cold hardiness
- Cold-hardy to roughly 19-20 F for brief periods; foliage can burn and it may need protection during prolonged or hard Tucson frosts. Marginal-to-good in 9a, reliable in 9b. Protect young plants in winter.
- Soil
- Prefers fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture; tolerates a range of soils but performs better with organic matter and regular irrigation than in lean, dry desert ground.
- Native range
- Coastal eastern Queensland, Australia (subtropical)
- Best used as
- Graceful weeping specimen palm for the tropical or oasis look, Pool, patio, and courtyard plantings with regular water, Accent where its 'waterfall' fronds can be displayed
- Wildlife
- Fruit eaten by birds; flowers offer minor pollinator value.
- Toxicity
- Not known to be toxic to people or pets.
How to grow Ribbon Palm in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Prefers more moisture than the Brahea/desert palms. Water deeply and regularly through the hot season - about every 5-10 days in peak summer to keep fronds lush; reduce in winter. It is from a humid subtropical climate, so it is less drought-adapted and shows stress (browning, frizzled tips) under prolonged dryness in the low desert.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed with slow-release palm fertilizer (with magnesium and micronutrients) 2-3 times during the warm season. Susceptible to potassium and micronutrient deficiencies in alkaline Tucson soils, which cause yellowing/frizzling - supplemental manganese and magnesium may be needed.
Pruning & care
Self-cleaning to a degree. Remove dead, fully brown fronds and old flower/fruit stalks; do not strip green fronds. The weeping ribbon-like leaf segments are the ornamental feature.
Notes
A subtropical, higher-water palm - best in microclimates with afternoon shade, supplemental irrigation, and wind/frost protection rather than in open xeriscapes. Botanical name updated from the older Livistona decipiens to the accepted Livistona decora. Use where a soft, weeping look and a real water budget are available.
Sources: Palmpedia / Palms For California - Livistona decora; ProjectPalm.net - Livistona decora; Wikipedia - Livistona decora (nomenclature: formerly L. decipiens); Jungle Music - Livistona decipiens/decora cultural notes