Southernmost native tropical plants in Australia?

[tom77falcons]

I thought they grow like several feet per year. That thing (Newport Beach) looks like a pygmy coconut palm, if there is such a thing. I guess the same growth rate would apply to Sydney.

[Derek40]

Originally Posted by Asagi

Illawarra is a region in New South Wales.

Specifically it is the region just south of Sydney, south coast and including Wollongong.
Certainly it is not a warm area, cooler than Sydney.
Alexander Palms, native to north Queensland grow well as far south as the North Coast of NSW - but not particularly well in the Sydney or even Hunter regions.
Other introduced species -eg Poinciana:

Delonix regia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

do not grow at all in Sydney, but are common in the north of NSW.
Most tropical and subtropical plants will grow this far south, but simply do not do as well.
Others like the River Sheoak - Casuarina species, which is a pest or invasive species in Florida, is hardier and grows well in more temperate climates like Sydney or the Hunter regions.

[Asagi]

Originally Posted by tom77falcons

I thought they grow like several feet per year. That thing (Newport Beach) looks like a pygmy coconut palm, if there is such a thing. I guess the same growth rate would apply to Sydney.

It's lucky to be alive at all...most of them die by November in SoCal lol....

[Asagi]

Originally Posted by Derek40

Specifically it is the region just south of Sydney, south coast and including Wollongong.
Certainly it is not a warm area, cooler than Sydney.
Alexander Palms, native to north Queensland grow well as far south as the North Coast of NSW - but not particularly well in the Sydney or even Hunter regions.
Other introduced species -eg Poinciana:

Delonix regia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

do not grow at all in Sydney, but are common in the north of NSW.
Most tropical and subtropical plants will grow this far south, but simply do not do as well.
Others like the River Sheoak - Casuarina species, which is a pest or invasive species in Florida, is hardier and grows well in more temperate climates like Sydney or the Hunter regions.

Don't Coconut Palms grow along the north coast of NSW as well?

[ChesterNZ]

Originally Posted by Asagi

Don't Coconut Palms grow along the north coast of NSW as well?

Maybe. I saw quite a few fruiting cocos on the Gold Coast (28 S) that appeared to be quite healthy, so it's not hard to believe that they could survive just across the border in Tweed Heads or Byron Bay.