Cocos Palm, or Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) is a common palm seen in many areas of the east coast. Planted along roads, parklands and gardens it may seem to contribute to that “tropical look” that we are so familiar with.
Unfortunately, Cocos palm has proven to have many unwanted traits causing it to become a public, private and environmental nuisance in our landscape.
Native to South America, Cocos palm was widely popular in past decades as an ornamental palm and planted extensively in some settings for its feathery, drooping fronds and yellow flowers and fruit. Despite being messier and harder to manage than our wonderful native Bangalow and Cabbage palms, Cocos palm was planted enough that it now spreads on its own, popping up in coastal bushland, private gardens and many unwanted places.
Messy, smelly and invasive
Cocos palm produces large amounts of fruit which is happily spread by birds and flying foxes, allowing it to invade our bushland, rainforests and waterways where it competes and shades out native plants. It grows quickly and reaches an average height of 12m. Old, dead leaves and bunches of fruit hang on the plant making it very untidy and often attracting rats. The fruit can start to ferment on the tree or when fallen to the ground, causing a horrible smell in urban situations. Issues with managing the palms along with its weight and difficult disposal mean that parts are often sadly dumped in bushland and reserves. This leads to more spreading and costly removal for local councils.
Cocos palm fruit is said to be toxic to dogs, and equally concerning is its impact on our native flying foxes. Attracted to the sweet fruit, young flying foxes in particular can get caught or injured in leaf bases and flower sheaths. The large seeds may also become stuck in the gut or behind their teeth, leading to slow starvation and blunting of teeth.
Benefits of removal
Although Cocos palm is not a highly regulated weed, local councils in many areas are starting to remove them in order to reduce maintenance costs, protect flying foxes and improve their local environment. Our Council has begun this process recently, with replacement planting occurring concurrently to ensure the urban canopy is maintained and improved.
How to identify the Cocos Palm
Cocos palm can be distinguished from native Bangalow palm in the following ways:
Leaves: Cocos palm fronds are long and spreading with many leaflets that often split at the ends, giving them a feathery and somewhat untidy appearance. Dead fronds tend to hang onto the plant below the main leaves. In contrast, Bangalow palm fronds have fewer leaflets and are more uniform in size and length, with a more symmetrical “umbrella-like” appearance. Old fronds shed quickly, leaving an obvious smooth green stem on the upper trunk.
Flowers and fruit: Cocos palm flowers hang in large clusters up to 2m long at the base of the leaf fronds and are cream-yellow in colour. Green fruit grow in heavy clusters turning yellow-orange when ripe. Bangalow palm flowers grow in clusters to 1m long, often forming well below the main leaf fronds. They are pink-lilac in colour and produce a bright red fruit.
Think you might have Cocos Palm?
Residents are encouraged to remove Cocos palms from their gardens if possible, and can contact the Biosecurity officer for assistance with identification. Refer to NSW WeedWise for more information on Cocos palm and other weeds NSW WeedWise – Cocos Palm
