Nipah palm Nypa fruticans
Nipah palm (Nypa fruticans) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Indo-Pacific coasts from Sri Lanka to northern Australia and the Solomons, including Singapore (brackish tidal rivers). It grows 4–9 m (13–30 ft) tall and 5–8 m (16–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 12 °C (54 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
Plan Nipah palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Nipah palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 4–9 m (13–30 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–8 m (16–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 5 m (16 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About 12 °C (54 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 156–261 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: young seed endosperm ("attap chee"), sap (sugar, vinegar) |
| Native to | Indo-Pacific coasts from Sri Lanka to northern Australia and the Solomons, including Singapore (brackish tidal rivers) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇦🇺 Australia |
| Invasive in | Nigeria, Cameroon: check local rules before planting |
Is Nipah 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 Nipah palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
See Nipah palm in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Gardens by the Bay (4 plants)
Questions about Nipah palm
- How far apart should I plant Nipah palm?
- About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–8 m (16–26 ft).
- Does Nipah palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Nipah palm need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Nipah palm?
- It tolerates about 12 °C (54 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Nipah palm flower?
- About 156–261 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks.
- Is Nipah 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 Nipah palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Nipah palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
- Mangrove plants of Singapore (fact sheets; after Ng & Sivasothi, A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore), WildSingapore
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Mangrove: grows in tidal, saline mud flooded by brackish water; it is a coastal habitat plant, not for ordinary garden soil.
- No trunk above ground: a creeping stem in the mud sends up erect fronds 5–9 m long; the leaves are the "attap" of traditional roofs. Floating fruit heads.
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