I think this is an Archontophoenix, but I'm not sure what species

[ne0ndrxft]

[quaman58]

These are tough to differentiate for me. I also suspect that there are hybrids between the species which make things more convoluted. That said, I always look for white-ish coloring under the leaves, and the amount of leaf twist. Also, the overall shape of the crown. And finally, whether it's a commercial property or not. Commercial landscapers will almost always choose commonly available species, which would be A. alexandrae in most of the world. The crown shape is similar to one I have in my garden. They also often develop a bit of a pronounced bulge at their base. Anyway, that's my guess..

[ne0ndrxft]

7 minutes ago, quaman58 said:

These are tough to differentiate for me. I also suspect that there are hybrids between the species which make things more convoluted. That said, I always look for white-ish coloring under the leaves, and the amount of leaf twist. Also, the overall shape of the crown. And finally, whether it's a commercial property or not. Commercial landscapers will almost always choose commonly available species, which would be A. alexandrae in most of the world. The crown shape is similar to one I have in my garden. They also often develop a bit of a pronounced bulge at their base. Anyway, that's my guess..

This is from a public park, but it is quite large and they planted supposedly a large amount of species (although they probably don't even know what they bought, they mislabel things a lot). 

 

[sonoranfans]

I suspect cunninghamiana but one of our experienced aussie members would give you a better answer I think.  Palmtalk being worldwide does have its advantages as archies are from austrailia.

[quaman58]

5 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

I suspect cunninghamiana but one of our experienced aussie members would give you a better answer I think.  Palmtalk being worldwide does have its advantages as archies are from austrailia.

The thing that made me look past cunninghamiana is the lack of apparent 90 degree leaf twist. At least that was my guess..

[sonoranfans]

2 hours ago, quaman58 said:

The thing that made me look past cunninghamiana is the lack of apparent 90 degree leaf twist. At least that was my guess..

yeah they look nothing like my alexandre, trunks/crownshafts way to thin, but I cant see the white undersides so well on mine these days at 30'+ tall triple in a thick canopy of other palms.  As the ring spacing of my alexes is greater and the light green crownshafts shed very cleanly with green left on the trunks for the last few rings below the crownshaft.  My (2) myolensis and maxima look very much like my alexandre.  These look a lot like cunningnamiana here, skinny trunks(maybe due to shade grown?) close rings smaller crowns etc.   But cultural conditions could have a big impact on these and because only cunninghamiana are uncommon here I doubt my ability to identify.  California archies have more stepped trunks down low with the rings it seems than the florida ones.

[ne0ndrxft]

1 hour ago, sonoranfans said:

yeah they look nothing like my alexandre, trunks/crownshafts way to thin, but I cant see the white undersides so well on mine these days at 30'+ tall triple in a thick canopy of other palms.  As the ring spacing of my alexes is greater and the light green crownshafts shed very cleanly with green left on the trunks for the last few rings below the crownshaft.  My (2) myolensis and maxima look very much like my alexandre.  These look a lot like cunningnamiana here, skinny trunks(maybe due to shade grown?) close rings smaller crowns etc.   But cultural conditions could have a big impact on these and because only cunninghamiana are uncommon here I doubt my ability to identify.  California archies have more stepped trunks down low with the rings it seems than the florida ones.

 

3 hours ago, quaman58 said:

The thing that made me look past cunninghamiana is the lack of apparent 90 degree leaf twist. At least that was my guess..

Thanks! I will record it as a cunninghamiana for now, and I'll see if anyone has any idea 

[tim_brissy_13]

 Very hard to make a positive ID from the photo, but I’d say it’s not A cunninghamiana. In general A cunninghamiana doesn’t retain green on the trunk and the crownshaft colour is more olive green and speckled. Leaflets are generally not quite as wide as other species or held as flat. The 90 degree twist I’ve found isn’t a reliable trait as other species sometimes have it, but that being said I’ve not really seen many A cunninghamiana without it. 
 

This looks typical of A alexandrae to me. I couldn’t rule out tuckeri, maxima or myolensis from the photo either but they’re just much more unlikely. 

[Davidlon]

I would say’ A alexandrae and I don’t think it’s A cunninghamiana because of the color of the crown shaft. I have grown A myolensis and I don’t think it’s that either.  The other ones I don’t have much experience with or at least I don’t remember growing any.  Also, some palms grow skinnier when they grow closer together, especially when young, so you can’t always go by the thickness of the trunk to determine it species. 

[ne0ndrxft]

On 1/1/2026 at 9:43 PM, Davidlon said:

I would say’ A alexandrae and I don’t think it’s A cunninghamiana because of the color of the crown shaft. I have grown A myolensis and I don’t think it’s that either.  The other ones I don’t have much experience with or at least I don’t remember growing any.  Also, some palms grow skinnier when they grow closer together, especially when young, so you can’t always go by the thickness of the trunk to determine it species. 

Oh thanks! 

[Tyrone]

It’s not cunninghamiana or purpurea. On the basis of probability I’d go with alexandrae but that’s a pure guess. To rule out tuckeri, myolensis, or maxima you’d need to see it in flower and up close, to start narrowing it down properly. 

[Davidlon]

A.myolensis 2nd image, they’re close in color but look at a little different to me, but that is only from the ones I have grown. I have never seen them in their habitat so I have limited knowledge. Tyrone is probably right on getting a true identification.  I don’t have any. A.alexandrae 1st  image, at this time but these I sold several years ago. Sorry the picture isn’t clearer