Fishtail Palm

The Fishtail Palm (Caryota mitis) is the only palm with leaflets shaped like a ragged fish tail. It is a clumping palm reaching about 6m tall and 3m wide, sending new stems up from the base rather than growing on a single trunk. That habit makes it useful: it holds foliage from ground level up, so it screens where other feature palms leave a bare stem.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage nothing else can copy. The triangular, torn edged leaflets give a tropical texture no strappy frond can match.
• It screens from the ground up. New suckers keep filling the base of the clump, so there is no gap at fence height.
• Happy out of full sun. Partial shade suits it, which opens up the south side of a house and a shaded courtyard.
• Safe beside a pool. Palm roots are fine and fibrous, so a clump sits close to coping and paving without lifting them.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 2m apart for a dense screen. Each clump spreads to about 3m, so the crowns overlap and the planting reads as a green wall.

Poolside. Non-invasive roots make it a safe poolside choice. Allow 2m from the coping so fronds are not constantly over the water.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 500mm or wider holds it well and keeps it nearer 3m than 6m, though potted palms dry out fast in summer.

Growing Fishtail Palms in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade or filtered light gives the best leaf colour, since exposed sun scorches the leaflet edges. It is frost tender, so in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and cold inland districts it belongs in a pot that can move under cover for winter.

Soil. Rich and free draining, with compost through the backfill. It likes humidity and steady moisture but will not sit in a wet hole, so raise the planting position on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then a weekly soak in dry spells. A palm fertiliser with magnesium and potassium in early spring and mid summer keeps the fronds dark green.

Pruning. Remove brown fronds at the base and cut out any stem that has finished flowering. Each stem flowers once, then dies while the suckers replace it, so the clump renews itself. Wear gloves, because the fruit pulp irritates skin.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow this palm in 300mm, 400mm and 500mm pots. A 300mm plant is a young clump of one or two stems, usually chest height, and the sensible way to plant a screening run. The 400mm and 500mm sizes arrive as multi stemmed clumps with real presence.

Fronds are tied in for transit and may look folded or show a little tip burn, which grows out with the next frond. Expect four to six weeks before new growth shows. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to choosing the right palm variety
• Browse the full palm range
• Compare other plants for poolside gardens
• Designing a tropical garden that stays lush

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Two metres apart in a single row. Each clump grows to about 3m wide, so that spacing closes the gap without the outer stems shading each other out.

Will it survive a cold winter?

Only where frost is light or absent. In cool southern and inland gardens, keep it in a container that can move to shelter before winter.

Is it safe for pets?

The fruit is the concern rather than the foliage. The pulp holds oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and skin, so cut fruiting stalks off before they ripen.