Pritchardia thurstonii

Common names

Thurstons Fan Palm, Lau Fan Palm.

Curiosities

Leaves are used as fans.

Origin

Fiji Islands.

Habitat

Tropical, on coralline limestone sands, subject to salt atmosphere and soils.

Morphology

The trunk can have a swelling at the base. Oval, stiff and bending, costapalmate leaves, around 1 m wide. Leaves bright green or light green above and pale below. On both leaf sides, leaf nerves may be covered with woolly threads.

Climate

Tropical. This palm has tolerated temperatures down to –2.2ºC (28ºF, USDA Zone 9b).

Germination

Growing

Requires a sunny position and a rich, calcareous, and well-drained soil. Dislikes loamy soils.