Tuckers King Palm Plant Care

Archontophoenix tuckeri Dowe

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Archontophoenix tuckeri, the Rocky River palm or Cape York palm, is a palm native to Australia.

🪴Houseplants🌴Palms
Water

Every 7–14 days

Light

Bright indirect to full sun

Temp

60–85°F

Humidity

50–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Tuckers King Palm?

Water Tuckers King Palm every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it bright indirect to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 60–85°F (16–29°C) and 50–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

Where Is the Tuckers King Palm Native To?

Native range1 country

What Is the Tuckers King Palm?

Tuckers King Palm (Archontophoenix tuckeri) belongs to the Arecaceae family within the Archontophoenix genus. Tuckers King Palm is native to Australia.

Tuckers King Palm displays a tall, elegant palm tree growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 10 ft. Tuckers King Palm produces creamy white flowers in large clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 36 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Tuckers King Palm?

Archontophoenix tuckeri requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–14 days

Let soil partially dry between waterings

What Light Does the Tuckers King Palm Need?

Tuckers King Palm thrives in bright indirect to full sun. The optimal light range is 2,000–8,000 lux. Avoid placing Tuckers King Palm in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Light Requirement

Bright indirect to full sun

2,000–8,000 lux

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Tuckers King Palm Prefer?

Archontophoenix tuckeri grows best at temperatures of 60–85°F. Tuckers King Palm prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Temperature

60–85°F

Humidity

50–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Tuckers King Palm?

Well-draining, rich soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Tuckers King Palm to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Tuckers King Palm?

Feed Tuckers King Palm every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.

Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

How Do You Repot a Tuckers King Palm?

Repot every 2-3 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

How Do You Propagate a Tuckers King Palm?

Tuckers King Palm can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to piccabeen palm plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Tuckers King Palm Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Tuckers King Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Tuckers King Palm?

Tuckers King Palm is susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Tuckers King Palm Need?

Tuckers King Palm grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Tuckers King Palm is native to Australia. In cooler regions, grow Tuckers King Palm as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 13a

Keep exploring plants

Tuckers King Palm is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Archontophoenix genus — compare its care with other Archontophoenix species on PlantoScan.

Archontophoenix is part of the Arecaceae plant family — browse all Arecaceae genera and species.

Tuckers King Palm thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

Related Plant Care Guides

Closely related plants with similar care requirements:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Archontophoenix tuckeri Dowe, family Arecaceae (first published in Austrobaileya 4: 240 (1994)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Tuckers King Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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