Caryota mitis (Clustering Fishtail Palm, Burmese Fishtail Palm, Fish Tail, Fishtail, Fishtail Palm, Miniature Fishtail Palm, Clumping Fishtail Palm, Tufted Fishtail Palm)
Botanical Information
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Genus | Caryota |
| Species | mitis |
| Synonyms | Caryota furfuracea, Caryota griffithii, Caryota griffithii var. selebica, Caryota javanica, Caryota nana, Caryota propinqua, Caryota sobolifera, Caryota sobolifera, Caryota speciosa, Drymophloeus zippellii, Thuessinkia speciosa |
| Category | Tropicals |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Origin | Southeast Asia. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Avoid contact with the fruit, it contains oxalic acid which is toxic when ingested and contact with the skin may result in severe chemical burns. All parts of the plant contain various alkaloids. Pulp of mature fruit contains calcium oxalate crystals. Fibrous hairs of the leaf stalk produce skin irritation. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 9b - 10 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H2 - H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -5 - 5 |
| Temperature (°F) | 23 - 41 |
| Height | 2.5 m |
| Spread | 1.5 m |
| Growth | Slow |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Short lived palm, best suited for an indoor houseplant or as an accent in tropical landscapes. |
| Propagation | Plant seeds in spring, seeds take 4-6 months to germinate. Can also be propagated by basal growth and offsets. |
| Cultivation | Must be protected from wind. Grows best in full but indirect sun, in thoroughly moist soil and high humidity. Fertilize once a month and do not let plant sit in water. |
| Pests | Spider mites and pseudomonas disease. |
| Notable Specimens | Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Grows as an understory plant in tropical rain forests. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Stems are clustered. |
| Leaf Description | 6 - 8 bipinnate fronds that grow up to 90 cm wide, with pinnules that are fishtail-shaped. Leaflets grow close together in clusters of 20-30. |
| Flower Description | Flowers and fruits aren’t produced when grown indoors. |
| Colour Description | Foliage is green, leaf stalks are grey-green and the fruit is red. |
Photographs
Caryota mitis, Form
