A tall and handsome palm with glossy fan shaped leaves and large cream flowers in autumn and winter. It can grow to 20 metres tall, but can be used as a pot plant while small. The early colonists wove hats from the leaves and the aboriginals used them to make bags, baskets and fishing nets. It is frost tender. Be aware that the leaf shafts have sharp spines which make clean up time rather painful unless you are wearing thick gloves.