{"product_id":"areca-catechu","title":"Betel Nut Palm - Areca catechu","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e the plant, free delivery and professional installation by our planting team. One price, whole job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBetel Nut Palm - Areca catechu\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slender, upright tropical palm with a smooth green trunk marked by clean white leaf scar rings and a bright green crownshaft below a crown of arching feather fronds. \u003cem\u003eAreca catechu\u003c\/em\u003e is planted in Australia purely as an ornamental, valued for a trunk that stays narrow at every stage and a crown that sits high and open rather than spreading. It is genuinely tropical, so it belongs in Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and warm coastal Queensland, and it will not survive frost or cold dry winters further south.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy Betel Nut Palm\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSlim Trunk\u003c\/strong\u003e: A narrow ringed green trunk that suits confined courtyards and narrow side gardens.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh Clean Crown\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fronds are held well above head height, leaving usable space beneath.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGreen Crownshaft\u003c\/strong\u003e: The smooth green shaft below the fronds gives the palm its polished tropical look.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGroup Planting\u003c\/strong\u003e: Multiple trunks at staggered heights create a natural rainforest grove effect.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColourful Fruit\u003c\/strong\u003e: Clusters of orange fruit hang below the crownshaft on mature palms.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTropical Resort Planting\u003c\/strong\u003e: Grouped in threes and fives around pools and entries in far north Queensland.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNarrow Courtyard\u003c\/strong\u003e: Its slim footprint suits spaces too tight for a spreading palm.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnderstorey Grove\u003c\/strong\u003e: Planted beneath larger trees, where the young palms enjoy filtered light.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScreening Row\u003c\/strong\u003e: A line of trunks filters a view without blocking breeze at ground level.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5 to 2m centres for a row of trunks used as a light screen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 to 4m for avenue planting, or clustered at 1m for a grove effect.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e The warm wet season, from late spring through summer.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. It needs consistent moisture and high humidity and will not tolerate frost, cold wind or dry air.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep the root zone constantly moist for the first two years, as this palm has no drought tolerance to speak of. Mulch heavily with organic material kept clear of the trunk, provide shade or shelter for young palms until the crown is established, and feed with a palm fertiliser twice yearly to prevent frond yellowing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 to 15m in tropical Australia over many years\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.5 to 3.5m crown spread\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate to fast in the tropics\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun when mature, filtered light when young\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tropical Asia, most likely the Philippines and neighbouring islands\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cream, followed by orange fruit\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"60L","offer_id":59795264373022,"sku":"ND-0156-60L","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"160L","offer_id":59795264405790,"sku":"ND-0156-160L","price":2750.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/CxuwEK6DrxGtRE1bZblOR_dSZMNSGn.jpg?v=1787311436","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/areca-catechu","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}