Foxtail palm Wodyetia bifurcata
Foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Melville Range, Cape York, Queensland (granite boulder slopes). It grows 8–15 m (26–49 ft) tall and 4–6 m (13–20 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 4 m (13 ft) apart.
Plan Foxtail palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Foxtail palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 8–15 m (26–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–6 m (13–20 ft) |
| Spacing | 4 m (13 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 6–13 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Melville Range, Cape York, Queensland (granite boulder slopes) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Foxtail palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
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 Foxtail palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Foxtail palm in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (2 plants)
Questions about Foxtail palm
- How far apart should I plant Foxtail palm?
- About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–6 m (13–20 ft).
- Does Foxtail palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Foxtail palm need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Foxtail palm?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Foxtail palm flower?
- From about May for 6–13 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Foxtail palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Foxtail palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Foxtail palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Australian native plant profiles, Australian National Botanic Gardens / Australian Plants Society
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: outdoors only where frost never occurs; elsewhere under heated glass.
- Leaflets radiate all round the rachis, so each leaf looks like a bushy fox tail; only described in 1983.
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