Clustering fishtail palm Caryota mitis
Clustering fishtail palm (Caryota mitis) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Indochina and Malesia, including Singapore (forest edges and secondary forest). It grows 5–10 m (16–33 ft) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about 2 °C (36 °F). Space plants about 3 m (10 ft) apart.
Plan Clustering fishtail palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Clustering fishtail palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 5–10 m (16–33 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 3 m (10 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 2 °C (36 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 261–521 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Indochina and Malesia, including Singapore (forest edges and secondary forest) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Invasive in | Florida (naturalised): check local rules before planting |
Is Clustering fishtail palm toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: fruit, sap
The fruit pulp holds needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that burn the skin and mouth.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Clustering fishtail palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Clustering fishtail palm in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (6 plants)
- China National Botanical Garden (2 plants)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (1 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (2 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (2 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (1 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (1 plants)
Questions about Clustering fishtail palm
- How far apart should I plant Clustering fishtail palm?
- About 3 m (10 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
- Does Clustering fishtail palm need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Clustering fishtail palm need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Clustering fishtail palm?
- It tolerates about 2 °C (36 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Clustering fishtail palm flower?
- About 261–521 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks.
- Is Clustering fishtail palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. The fruit pulp holds needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that burn the skin and mouth.
- What grows well with Clustering fishtail palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Clustering fishtail palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- A clump of slender stems with twice-divided leaves of ragged, fish-tail leaflets; each stem dies after flowering from the top down (hapaxanthic), and new suckers replace it.
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons