Mangrove fan palm Licuala spinosa
Mangrove fan palm (Licuala spinosa) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Arecaceae family, native to Andaman Islands and Indochina to the Philippines, including Singapore (back mangrove and swampy forest). It grows 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) tall and 2.5–4 m (8.2–13 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart.
Plan Mangrove fan palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Mangrove fan palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2.5–4 m (8.2–13 ft) |
| Spacing | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 4.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 209–313 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Andaman Islands and Indochina to the Philippines, including Singapore (back mangrove and swampy forest) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Is Mangrove fan palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported; the leaf stalks are armed with hooked spines.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Mangrove fan palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
See Mangrove fan palm in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (4 plants)
Questions about Mangrove fan palm
- How far apart should I plant Mangrove fan palm?
- About 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2.5–4 m (8.2–13 ft).
- Does Mangrove fan palm need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Mangrove fan palm need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Mangrove fan palm?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Mangrove fan palm flower?
- About 209–313 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks.
- Is Mangrove fan palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported; the leaf stalks are armed with hooked spines.
- What grows well with Mangrove fan palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Mangrove fan palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
- Mangrove plants of Singapore (fact sheets; after Ng & Sivasothi, A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore), WildSingapore
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Freshwater or peat swamp plant: needs permanently wet, acidic, waterlogged ground.
- A clump of thin stems with round fan leaves split into wedge-shaped segments; long arching sprays of orange-red fruits.
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons