The solitaire palm is a slender trunked, small to medium palm tree. It can reach a height of up to twelve metres tall by four metres wide. As a native of Queensland, it loves tropical and sub-tropical climates. In its native habitat, the solitaire palm is an understory species rainforests. In these forests, it’s often found alongside rivers or streams, provided there is good drainage. It can be found as high as 900 metres above sea level. The binomial name, Ptychosperma elegans, has the following meanings:

• Ptychosperma-comes from two Ancient Greek words. The first, ‘ptukhe’ means ‘a fold’, while the second is ‘sperma’ which meas ‘seed’.
• Elegans-a Latin word that means ‘graceful’ or ‘elegant’.

The trunk is grey in colour and often has conspicuous leaf scars on it. At the base of the trunk, there can be a slight bulge. The crown of the solitaire palm is composed of pinnate leaves, composed of several leaflets. In length, the leaves can reach 2.5 metres.

The inflorescences are produced on the top of the trunk, just below the crownshaft (an elongated leaf base found on many palms). The whole inflorescence can reach 70 centimetres in length. Flowers are grouped into sets of three female and two male flowers. They are light green in colour. The fruits that follow are 15 mm by 10mm in size and bright red when ripe. Within the fruit is a single seed that has five longitudinal grooves.

If growing the solitaire palm in your garden, plant into a semi-shaded spot. The best time to plant one is spring or autumn when the weather is warm but not too hot or cold-this allows the palm to start becoming established before any extremes in the weather. If planting more than one, plant three metres apart to allow room for them to establish and grow. Solitaire palms can also be planted in pots. As with all potted plants, plant them in the best quality potting mix you can afford and, if possible, use palm mix. Put the pot into a semi-shaded position. Whether planting in the ground or in a pot, water well once planted and ensure regular watering as they establish. Trees can be grown from seed-fresh seeds reliably germinate within a few months.

The apical buds of this palm can be eaten after being cooked. It is worth noting that in doing this, the palm tree will die. This is because the apical bud is the only growing point of the palm.

There is only one last thing to ask-would I have it in my garden?