Archontophoenix cunninghamiana - Piccabeen Palm

The Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, better known as the King Palm, is a very beautiful species native to the subtropical forests of Australia. It is not very hardy and can only be grown in the ground in frost-free climes, but it thrives in containers, where it forms a graceful and highly decorative plant throughout the year. It is a shade-loving plant that particularly enjoys mild and humid environments.

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana belongs to the family of Arecaceae. Its trunk, called a stipe, is solitary, smooth, greyish, and marked with green rings, which are remnants of old petioles. In its natural habitat, it can reach 20 m (66 ft) in height when grown in the ground, but will remain much smaller in containers. At the top of the stipe, a crown formed of large palmate leaves called fronds, develops. These fronds are arched, divided into numerous light green, leathery, and shiny leaflets, sometimes with pendant filaments. Each leaf, which can be as long as 2 m (7 ft), slightly droops at its tip and is carried by a long petiole. Flowering occurs in summer in the form of ramified and dense inflorescences that emerge under the crown of the leaves, with a different appearance depending on whether they are male or female. Male inflorescences are shorter and somewhat resemble brooms, while female inflorescences are long, pendulous, and adorned with small purple flowers. These flowers are followed by non-edible but decorative, ovoid, bright red berries when ripe, and measuring 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter.

When planted in the ground, the The Archontophoenix cunninghamiana deserves a prominent spot in front of a large shrub ensemble that will protect it from excessive sunlight. It also makes elegant rows in mild climates, including coastal areas. It requires space to fully express its beauty and grows quickly if provided with sufficient water and nutrients. It is well-suited for container cultivation and makes a stunning indoor plant for spacious well-lit entrances, verandas, and temperate greenhouses. It can sometimes be challenging to pair with other plants due to its strong personality. Reserve a corner by a pool and plant small evergreen bushes like bushy sage and teucrium, which are simple and floriferous, at its base. Strongly visual, minimalist, and colourful plants like Phormiums, precise and geometric Agaves, almost metallic Astelia chathamica, orange Hakonechloa macra Aureola in autumn, and violet and delicate Verbena bonariensis can accompany it in a striking and easy-to-maintain flower bed.