Livistona Species, Fountain Palm, Ribbon Palm, Weeping Cabbage Palm

THis tree is very similar to Livistona australis, only the fan leaves are even more finely divided and very droopy. It is a slightly fas...Read Moreter grower here in So Cal, and has very attractive maroonish, dark green leaves and petioles when young and in full sun. However, it fades to a 'normal' green color with age. Seedlings can sometimes be confused with Livistona mariae or rigida which have even more reddish coloration when young. The latter two are more robust trees and have larger, less finely split leaves. My experience with this species has been good and it is a reliable and attractive grower. Only problem is it has viciously spiny teeth along the petioles which are nearly unparalleled for sharpness in the palm world.
A unique malady to certain palm species is something called 'leaning palm syndrome'. This only seems to happen to a few species, and this is one of them. The palm can otherwise seem totally healthy. No one knows the cause, but it could be related to potasium deficiency, boron deficiency... but no one knows for sure. Without any intervention, these palms will often die, as they start to grow straight into the ground.

Native of Australia, as most Livistonas are... but grows excellently in much of California and very commonly grown here. I don't think anyone has claimed this is a California native (note to australia13 and CoconutFreak)

Not sure how long, if ever, it will take to get in the 'popular' literature, but this palm has been reclassified as Livistona decorum as of 2004.