In New South Wales it is listed as a Vulnerable species where it is threatened in the wild by weed invasion, frequent fires and illegal seed harvesting.
Roasted Doryanthes flower spikes were used as a food source for Indigenous Australians and the roots were mashed into a pulp and made into cakes.
If you have a large garden, this plant will add structure and colour - the foliage in particular being extremely architectural when planted singly. In cultivation it is an adaptable plant which prefers well drained soils.
Genus: From Greek, doratos, spear; and anthos, flower.
Species: After Sir Arthur Hunter Palmer (1819 - 1898), pastoralist and Queensland politician.