Caryota mitis

RHS Plant Profile

Burmese fishtail palm

Other common names

clustered fishtail palm, tufted fishtail palm

Synonyms

Caryota griffithii
Caryota sobolifera
Caryota furfuracea

Conservatory Greenhouse Palms

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An evergreen palm with clustered stems bearing rich green leaves to 4m in length, composed of triangular leaflets, and panicles of creamy-white flowers in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Arecaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eatenskin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs, cats): Harmful if eatenskin irritant - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Caryota are evergreen palms with solitary or clustered stems bearing large, 2-pinnate leaves at the apex of each stem; small cream flowers are borne in large panicles in summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: SE China to Indo-China & Malesia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright filtered light with high humidity. When in growth water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring at 27°C

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Mediterranean climate plants
Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free