By Kieran Tapsell, of Banksia Bushcare
Alexander Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) is indigenous to northern NSW and Queensland, but it thrives in frost-free areas further south, and has been planted widely in the Illawarra.
It is a cousin of the Bangalow Palm and, from a distance without flowers and leaves to identify it, they appear identical. The Alexander palm sometimes is wider at the base of the trunk, but not always.
In contrast to the lilac flowers of the Bangalow, Alexander Palm’s flowers are white.
The seed is also red and indistinguishable from the Bangalow’s.
Alexanders can be distinguished from Bangalows by the underside of the leaf, which has a whitish tinge, different to the leaf’s top side. The underside of the Bangalow is the same as the top.
