Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm - Evergreen Trees Direct

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

$190.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm

30cm 40cm/45L 100L 200L 350L

Current Stock Height Guides

100L: 1.5m – 2.5m Approx.
200L: 2m – 3.4m Approx.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 4m

Mature Width: 1.5m to 3m

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

Rhapis excelsa, the Lady Palm, is a clumping fan palm with slender cane-like stems wrapped in fibre and deep green fronds split into broad ribbed segments. It suckers slowly into a dense upright clump. Small cream flowers appear in summer, but the foliage and the fine vertical stems are the point.

It prefers part to full shade and moist, well drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Growth is slow, 10 to 30 centimetres a year. It suits warm temperate, subtropical and tropical gardens, and it is frost sensitive, so it needs a protected or frost free position in cooler districts.

Lady Palm is used in shaded courtyards, narrow side gardens, atriums and lift lobbies, and it is among the best palms for interiors and low light. Grouped, it makes a soft screen where a hedge would not grow. In a pot near an entry it holds its form for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Lady Palm

What is a Lady Palm?

Rhapis excelsa is a clumping fan palm from southern China, grown for its slender cane-like stems and deep green fronds divided into broad ribbed segments. It spreads slowly by suckering to form a dense, upright clump. Cream flowers appear in summer, but the foliage is the reason to plant it.

How big does Lady Palm grow?

Clumps typically reach 2 to 4 metres tall and 1.5 to 3 metres wide over many years. Growth is slow at 10 to 30 centimetres a year, so a plant stays in scale for a long time. Indoor specimens generally settle at the lower end of that range and stay there.

Does Lady Palm need sun or shade?

Part shade to full shade suits it best. It is one of the few palms that thrives in genuinely low light, which is why it is used indoors and in narrow shaded courtyards. Direct hot afternoon sun yellows and burns the fronds. Filtered light under a canopy gives the richest colour.

Is Lady Palm frost tolerant?

No. It is frost sensitive, and cold damages the fronds, so it needs a frost free or well protected position. In cooler parts of Australia grow it under a verandah, in a courtyard with overhead shelter, or in a pot that can be brought indoors over winter. Warm, humid conditions suit it.

Can Lady Palm grow in pots and indoors?

Yes, and it is one of the best palms for both. Use a free-draining potting mix in a pot at least 40 centimetres wide, keep it out of direct sun, and water when the top few centimetres dry. Indoors it tolerates low light and air conditioning better than most palms.

How far apart should I plant Lady Palm for screening?

Space plants 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter, more formal line. Because the clumps expand slowly, closer spacing is worth the extra plants if you want cover quickly. Allow 3 metres apart for a soft textured avenue.

How do I care for Lady Palm?

Keep the soil moist but never waterlogged, and enrich it with compost or other organic matter. Feed in spring and again in summer with a palm fertiliser. Remove old or damaged fronds at the base. Wipe indoor foliage occasionally so the leaves stay clean and free of dust.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

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Uses in my Garden

Council or Civic Landscapes

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm works in an:

Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm Evergreen or Deciduous?

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 4m

Mature Width: 1.5m to 3m

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

Growth Rate of Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

They are considered to have a:

Slow Growth Rate
Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

Is Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm frost tolerant?

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm is Frost Sensitive – May suffer damage from frost, best in frost-free or protected spots.

Does Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm Flower?

Rhapis excelsa produces small, yellowish to cream flowers on short panicles, typically during the warmer months. While not ornamental, these subtle blooms sit discreetly among the foliage and are followed by small fruit, with the palm valued primarily for its lush, fan-shaped leaves and elegant, architectural form.

Does Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Summer

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

Cream

Is Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm an Australian Native Tree?

No

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm is Native to Southern China and Taiwan, where Rhapis excelsa grows naturally as an understory palm in subtropical forests.

What is the Wildlife Value of Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm ?

Its dense, multi-stemmed clumping habit provides excellent shelter for small birds and beneficial insects, creating protected microhabitats within the garden. While not a heavy nectar producer, the structure of the palm supports shade-loving invertebrates and contributes to overall garden biodiversity.

How much Sunlight does Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm need?

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm will thrive best in:

Part Shade
Full Shade

Preferred Soil?

Rhapis excelsa performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils with an acidic to neutral pH. It will also tolerate lighter sandy soils when enriched with organic matter to improve moisture retention. Avoid heavy clay or poorly drained areas unless significantly improved, as excess moisture around the roots can cause stress and decline. Keep the soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the palm matures.

Is Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm Drought Tolerant?

Is Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires regular watering to establish well. Once established, Rhapis excelsa develops moderate drought tolerance, maintaining its fresh green foliage through dry periods when grown in well-drained soil. Occasional supplementary watering during extended heat helps preserve frond quality and density.

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How To Plant Your Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

Slow Growth Rate
Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, keep the root zone consistently moist with weekly deep watering and additional water during hot dry spells.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for scale or sooty mould in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm in Different Soil

Rhapis excelsa performs best in rich, well-drained loam with a slightly acidic pH and consistent moisture. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage and organic matter are managed well.

Sandy soil: Free-draining but enrich heavily with compost and mulch deeply to hold moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost, and mound slightly to lift the root zone.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent flowering.

pH: Slightly acidic preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter or pine bark to maintain levels naturally.