Licuala grandis, the ruffled fan palm, Vanuatu fan palm is a species of palm tree in the family Arecaceae, native to Vanuatu, an island nation in the Pacific. A compact and robust palm grows easily with minimum care and enjoys humid and warm climes.
Licuala grandis is an attractive and small-sized palm species of the fan palm genus, Licuala, that’s primarily grown for its exotic and unique foliage. A slow-growing solitary and single-trunked palm tree that can reach up to 10 ft (3 m) tall and has a crown spread of about 8 ft (2.4 m) wide or less. However, it’s mostly seen at lower heights, around 6 ft (1.8 m) tall. It has an upright and slender trunk, about 4-5 ins (10-12.7 cm) in diameter and is brown to grey-coloured. It will be ridged with old leaf scars and traces of fibrous leaf sheaths, sometimes providing free housing for volunteer ferns as seen in the above image. It is top-heavy with evergreen foliage, forming a beautiful canopy with its very large fan-shaped leaves, each about 22 ins (0.56 m) or more in diameter.
Moderate water requirements but more water is needed during the hot and dry seasons. Being a rainforest understory palm, it benefits from high humid conditions.
Grows best in light shade or dappled sunlight. It can tolerate full sun in the high humid tropics or once established, though the leaves may sometimes get scorched by direct sunlight.
Prefers well-drained, organic-enriched and sandy loam soils. However, any soil type is acceptable, provided it’s free-draining.
Being an understory tropical palm, Licuala grandis is sensitive to cold weather and strong winds that may damage the foliage. Cold tolerance down to 35.5°F (2°C) with protection against frost. In non-hardy regions, it is recommended to grow it as a houseplant in a container during the colder months, providing adequate light, warmth and humidity for optimum growth indoor. Best to maintain temperatures above 50°F (10°C). Then, move it outdoor for the summer in a shaded and protected location, and bring it indoors when the temperatures get lower.
