Cocos palm

• Single-stemmed palm up to an average height of 12m.
• Trunk is grey, sturdy, smooth.
• Fronds are up to 5m long, with green upper surfaces, greyish undersides, leaflets radiating from central leaf stem, do not self-shed.
• Flowers are yellow, stalkless, in groups of 3 with 1 female flower and 2 male, held in large, branched clusters up to 2m long.
• Fruit is orange-yellow, egg-shaped, about 2.5cm in diameter.
• Hanging dead fronds and fermenting dropped fruit look untidy.

• Prefers rainforests and along riverbanks.

• Most widespread and common in South East Queensland.
• Also recorded as naturalised in tropical North Queensland.

• Flowers during spring.

Environmental

• Invades riparian areas and dry eucalypt forests.

• Seed is spread by bats.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Physical control

• Cut off crown below lowest frond to control individual plants.
• Hand-pull or chip any seedlings that come up around base.
• Pick up dead fruit and dispose of in sealed plastic bags.
• Take care to ensure your own and others safety when trimming or lopping cocos palm near power lines. For electrical safety information visit the Worksafe Qld website.

• Cocos palm is not a prohibited or restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014. However, by law, everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants under their control.
• Local governments must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants in their area. This plan may include actions to be taken on Cocos palm. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local government for more information.