Wodyetia bifurcata - Evergreen Trees Direct

Wodyetia bifurcata

$270.00

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Current Stock Height Guides

150L: Enquire within for height guide information.
200L: Enquire within for height guide information.

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: 8m to 12m (approx.) (trunk height)

Mature Width: 3m to 4m

Wodyetia bifurcata is expected to grow 30cm to 90cm per year (moderate to fast) (approx.).

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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Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Wodyetia bifurcata

Wodyetia bifurcata, the Foxtail Palm, is a single trunked Australian native palm from Cape York, named for the plumose fronds that radiate around the stem like a brush. The smooth grey trunk swells slightly at the base and carries a clean green crownshaft, with orange red fruit following the small cream flowers.

It grows 8 to 12 metres tall with a crown 3 to 4 metres across, adding roughly 30 to 90 centimetres a year. Full sun to part shade suits it, in free draining soil. Tropical and subtropical Australia is its range, from Darwin and Cairns through to Brisbane and the northern rivers. It is drought tolerant once established but frost sensitive.

It is planted as a driveway avenue, a pool surround, a resort or civic feature and a courtyard specimen, usually 3 to 4 metres apart, or 3 metres for a uniform avenue. The fronds shed cleanly on their own, which keeps ongoing costs down and makes it an easy palm to specify in numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Foxtail Palm

What is a Foxtail Palm?

Wodyetia bifurcata is an Australian native palm, originally from a small area of Cape York in far north Queensland. It has a single smooth trunk, a green crownshaft and plumose fronds where the leaflets sit at many angles around the stem, giving the bushy foxtail look. Orange red fruit follows the small cream flowers.

How tall does a Foxtail Palm grow?

It grows 8 to 12 metres tall with a canopy spread of 3 to 4 metres. Trunk diameter stays modest, so the footprint at ground level is small even on a mature palm. That combination of height and narrow base is why it works in driveways, pool surrounds and courtyards where floor space is limited.

How fast does it grow?

Moderate to fast, at roughly 30 to 90 centimetres a year depending on warmth, water and feeding. Young palms in the ground in a warm coastal garden sit at the top of that range, while cooler or drier sites run slower. Advanced stock in the larger container sizes gives immediate height and shortens the wait considerably.

Is the Foxtail Palm frost tolerant?

No. It is a tropical palm and frost will damage the fronds and can kill young plants outright. Anywhere with regular winter frost is unsuitable, including the tablelands, inland southern Australia and most of Victoria and Tasmania. In marginal areas, plant it in a warm, sheltered position with some overhead protection.

Is it suitable for coastal positions?

Yes. It handles salt laden wind well and is widely used in beachfront and near coastal landscaping through Queensland and northern New South Wales. Give it free draining soil, since the main risk near the coast is not salt but waterlogging in heavy ground. Water through the first two summers while the root system establishes.

How far apart should Foxtail Palms be planted?

For a feature planting, 3 to 4 metres apart lets each crown develop fully without crowding. For an avenue where a uniform, soft textured line is wanted, 3 metres apart is the usual spacing. Keep them at least 2 metres off buildings and paving so the fronds have room and shed fronds have somewhere to land.

How do I care for a Foxtail Palm?

Water regularly through establishment, then it copes with dry spells. Feed with a slow release palm fertiliser in spring and again in summer, since the crown yellows quickly when magnesium or potassium runs short. Fronds shed on their own, so pruning is rarely needed. Remove spent fruit stalks if seedlings in the garden beds are a nuisance.

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)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Council or Civic Landscapes
Plant in Pots (or) Suitable for Pots
Street Tree

Wodyetia bifurcata works in an:

Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
Contemporary / Architectural Garden – striking forms for bold design statements.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Wodyetia bifurcata Evergreen or Deciduous?

Wodyetia bifurcata is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 8m to 12m (approx.) (trunk height)

Mature Width: 3m to 4m

Wodyetia bifurcata is expected to grow 30cm to 90cm per year (moderate to fast) (approx.).

Growth Rate of Wodyetia bifurcata

Wodyetia bifurcata is expected to grow 30cm to 90cm per year (moderate to fast) (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Wodyetia bifurcata

Is Wodyetia bifurcata frost tolerant?

Wodyetia bifurcata is Frost Sensitive – May suffer damage from frost, best in frost-free or protected spots.

Does Wodyetia bifurcata Flower?

Wodyetia bifurcata produces branched cream to white flower clusters beneath the crown shaft, typically in the warmer months. These blossoms develop into striking orange to red fruits that add seasonal colour and enhance its ornamental appeal.

Does Wodyetia bifurcata flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Sporadic

Flower Type:

Not Applicable

Flower Colour:

White

Is Wodyetia bifurcata an Australian Native Tree?

Yes

Wodyetia bifurcata is Native to Endemic to a small area of Cape Melville in northern Queensland, Australia, where it grows in rocky, sandy soils.

What is the Wildlife Value of Wodyetia bifurcata ?

Its clusters of bright orange-red fruits attract a variety of fruit-eating birds, while the palm’s arching fronds offer shelter and roosting spots for small birds. The flowers also provide nectar that supports native insects, contributing to a balanced and biodiverse garden environment.

How much Sunlight does Wodyetia bifurcata need?

Wodyetia bifurcata will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Wodyetia bifurcata performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils with an acidic to neutral pH. It will also tolerate poorer sandy soils if enriched with organic matter to improve moisture retention and fertility. Avoid clay, compacted or waterlogged soils unless significantly improved, as these conditions can lead to root decline. Keep the soil evenly moist during establishment, then reduce watering as the palm matures.

Is Wodyetia bifurcata Drought Tolerant?

Is Wodyetia bifurcata Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it benefits from regular, deep watering to establish a strong root system. Once established, Wodyetia bifurcata shows good drought tolerance for a tropical species, maintaining healthy foliage and form during dry periods when planted in well-drained soil.

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How To Plant Your Wodyetia bifurcata

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 Wodyetia bifurcata

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

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

Wodyetia bifurcata is expected to grow 30cm to 90cm per year (moderate to fast) (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Wodyetia bifurcata

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: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

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

Planting Your Wodyetia bifurcata in Different Soil

Wodyetia bifurcata performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

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

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How fast does the Foxtail Palm grow?
A: The Foxtail Palm has a moderate growth rate. With proper care and favorable conditions, it can grow to its full height within 5 to 10 years.

Q: Is the Foxtail Palm suitable for small gardens?
A: Yes, despite its height, the Foxtail Palm has a relatively compact crown and can be a great addition to small gardens where vertical space is available.

Q: Can the Foxtail Palm be grown indoors?
A: It is possible to grow the Foxtail Palm indoors provided there is sufficient light. However, it thrives best outdoors where it can receive full sunlight.

Q: Are the fruits of the Foxtail Palm edible?
A: No, the fruits of the Foxtail Palm are not edible. They are primarily ornamental and should be handled with care as they can be a choking hazard for small children and pets.

Q: What type of fertilizer is best for the Foxtail Palm?
A: A balanced, slow-release palm fertilizer is ideal for the Foxtail Palm. It should be applied in the growing season to support healthy growth and frond production.