Caryota mitis
 
Common Names Fishtail Palm, Burmese Fishtail Palm, Clustering Fishtail Palm
 
Zones 9B–11
 
A distinctive clustering palm native to Southeast Asia, Caryota mitis is named for its unusual bipinnate leaves with jagged, fishtail-shaped leaflets. It forms dense clumps of slender trunks and is valued for its tropical texture, fast growth, and adaptability to shade. Though ornamental, its fruit contains irritating crystals and must be handled with care.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Clustering; moderate to fast growth rate
Height: Typically 15–25 ft (4.5–7.5 m); up to 40 ft (12 m) in habitat
Trunk: Slender, smooth, gray; 4–6 in (10–15 cm) diameter; multiple stems from base
Leaves: Bipinnate; 6–10 ft (1.8–3 m) long; triangular leaflets with ragged edges, resembling a fish’s tail
Petiole: Long; covered in fibrous material; unarmed
Inflorescence: Sequential flowering from top to base; pale purple flowers on hanging spikes
Fruit: Round berries; green to reddish-black; contain calcium oxalate crystals—toxic and highly irritating
Ecology: Native to humid forests, limestone hills, and disturbed areas from India to Malaysia and the Philippines
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Part shade to filtered light; tolerates full sun in humid climates
Watering: Regular; prefers moist, organic-rich soil
Soil: Loamy or sandy; well-drained but moisture-retentive
Temperature: Thrives in 70–90°F (21–32°C); tolerates light frost
Humidity: Moderate to high; prefers tropical conditions
Propagation: By seed (4–6 months to germinate) or division of basal suckers
Tolerance: Wind-sensitive; shallow-rooted; protect from cold and drought
 
Landscape Use Ideal for tropical screens, understory plantings, and container culture. Pairs well with Rhapis excelsa, Chamaedorea seifrizii, and Licuala grandis.