Solitaire palm overview
The solitary Queensland Ptychosperma. USDA 10a to 12, a slim tropical street palm, not the clustering Macarthur and not a king palm.
Region of origin
Northern and eastern Queensland
Native countries
Historical discovery
Robert Brown published Seaforthia elegans. Carl Blume moved it to Ptychosperma in 1843. Solitaire means one trunk, unlike the clustering Macarthur.
Names
Common names
Solitaire palm, Alexander palm (misapplied), Elegant palm
Synonyms
- Seaforthia elegans R.Br.
Cold hardiness
Survives about 28°F / -2°C. Outdoor range USDA 10a–12a. Hover or click a zone, state, or country. Switch the U.S. map between states and hardiness zones.
Highlighted USDA zones 10a–12a. Green countries can be grown outdoors.
United States
In range Too cold
World
Native Can be grown
Alaska and Hawaii are state outlines with their overall zone range. A country is painted if its mildest inhabited winter is at least one USDA step milder than this palm’s hardiness.
Scientific facts
- One trunk. Macarthur is the clump.
- Often confused with Alexander or king palm. Check the jagged leaflet tips and thinner crownshaft.
- Frost-free. Fast enough for impatient tropical yards.
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Full care guide
The solitaire palm is Ptychosperma elegans, a single-trunk Queensland palm for frost-free streets and bright courtyards. USDA 10a to 12. It is not Macarthur (the clump) and not a king palm, even when the tag is lazy.
Common Names:
Solitaire palm, elegant palm. Alexander and king are other genera.
Scientific Name:
Ptychosperma elegans (R.Br.) Blume.
Origin:
Northern and eastern Queensland, Australia.
Appearance:
A slim, ringed trunk, a short crownshaft, pinnate leaves with jagged leaflet tips, and red-orange fruit. One stem unless someone planted a group.
Growth Rate:
Moderate to fast in heat.
Max Growth Height:
Often 25 to 40 feet.
Foliage Spread:
8 to 12 feet.
Cold Hardiness and Hardiness Zone:
USDA 10a to 12. Damage around 28°F (-2°C). Not a zone 9 workhorse.
Soil Type:
Rich, moist, well-drained.
Fruit and Flowering:
Orange to red. Birds like them. Messy on walks.
Can it Grow Indoors:
Only when young.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade. Young plants like a little protection.
Water Requirements:
Even moisture.
Maintenance Level:
Medium. Feed in the growing season with palm-specific fertilizer. Fruit and old fronds are the mess.
Common Diseases/Pests:
Scale, mites in dry wind, nutrient yellowing in sand.
Plant Care:
Heat, water, one trunk, frost-free. If you wanted a clump, that is Macarthur. If you wanted a green crownshaft king, that is Archontophoenix.
Solitaire palm Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Solitaire or Macarthur?
Solitaire is usually one trunk (P. elegans). Macarthur clusters (sold as P. macarthurii, Kew: P. propinquum).
2. Solitaire or king palm?
King is Archontophoenix, with a longer green crownshaft. Solitaire is slimmer, with jagged leaflet tips.
3. Can I grow it in zone 9?
Not as a reliable outdoor tree.
4. Good for a small yard?
Slimmer than a queen or Canary Island date. Still a tree. Watch fruit drop.
Plant solitaire palm on a frost-free tropical street when you want one slim Ptychosperma. If you wanted a clump, buy Macarthur. If you wanted California bangalow, that is a different genus.