Corypha utan
 
Common Names Gebang Palm, Buri Palm, Cabbage Palm, Kennedy Palm
 
Zones 10A–11
 
A colossal monocarpic palm native to Southeast Asia and northern Australia, Corypha utan rivals C. umbraculifera in size but is more widespread and culturally utilized. It thrives in monsoonal lowlands and coastal plains, producing a massive inflorescence with up to one million flowers before dying. Its leaves, sap, and pith are widely harvested for food, fiber, and craft, making it both a botanical marvel and a utilitarian staple.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Solitary; monocarpic
Height: 50–66 ft (15–20 m); trunk up to 3.3 ft (1 m) diameter
Trunk: Grey; spiral leaf scars; no crownshaft
Leaves: Costapalmate; 13–20 ft (4–6 m) long; 80–100 deep segments; bluish-green; petiole 6.5–13 ft (2–4 m) long, armed with stout spines
Inflorescence: Terminal panicle; 6.5–16 ft (2–5 m) tall; up to 1 million yellowish-white flowers with unpleasant odor
Fruit: Olive green to brown; globular; 0.6–1.2 in (15–30 mm) diameter; ripens in ~18 months
Ecology: Found in floodplains, wetlands, grasslands, and riverbanks across Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, and Cape York
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun
Watering: High; prefers seasonal flooding or consistent moisture
Soil: Moist, well-drained; tolerates clay and loam
Temperature: Hardy to ~30°F (–1°C); frost-sensitive
Humidity: High; prefers tropical monsoonal climates
Propagation: By seed; slow germination and juvenile growth
Tolerance: Moderate drought tolerance; not salt-tolerant
 
Landscape Use Suited for large-scale tropical landscapes, ethnobotanical gardens, and collectors of monumental palms. Pairs well with Borassus flabellifer, Livistona saribus, and Corypha lecomtei.