Matt's 9b field note
“Tropical texture for the yard.”
Background
Caryota mitis, the clustering fishtail palm, is native to the humid forests of Southeast Asia, from India through southern China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The genus is named for its jagged, triangular, fishtail-shaped leaflets. It is a classic Victorian conservatory palm, widely grown as a tropical landscape and interior specimen.
Distinguishing traits
Clustering evergreen palm, 15-25 ft; multiple slender ringed trunks; huge bipinnate fronds with distinctive fishtail leaflets. Monocarpic stems: each trunk flowers once (pale purple pendulous spikes), fruits reddish-black berries, then dies while the clump continues. Berries contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals — toxic if ingested and irritating to skin.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- n/a — ornamental
- Cold hardiness
- Zones 9b-11 (UF/IFAS lists 10b-11); frost-tender, damaged around 25-28°F, may regrow from roots after a freeze. Protect in Queen Creek winters.
- Heat tolerance
- Worth trying in Phoenix only in a shaded, humid garden spot; full desert sun and dry wind scorch it.
- Water
- Abundant water with good drainage; regular fertilizer in the growing season.
- Soil
- Enriched, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral.
- Sun exposure
- Partial shade to full sun; in Phoenix, shade is strongly preferred.
Where to buy
- Smarty Plants Nursery (Homestead, FL)