Caryota obtusa
Thai giant mountain fishtail palm
Fast growing and grand. Unsurpassed for exotic impact. Resembles giant tree fern. Protect from chronic winds.
Seen in Flora Grubb’s New Home Garden →
 Height | 30–50ft |
|---|---|
 Width | 20–30ft |
 Tolerates | Cool Summers, Moist Soil |
 Water needs | High |
This palm appreciates consistent water, but doesn't want to have soggy feet. Once it's established, be sure to water it when the top inch or two of the soil is dry. Usually this will mean watering deeply every five to seven days during the dry season. Planting this palm with good drainage will help to make sure it doesn't accidentally get overwatered. | |
 Hardy to | 28°F |
 Exposure | Part Sun – Full Sun |
 Plant traits | Foliage Feature, Palm, Solitary, Tropical, Trunking |
 Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
 Drainage | In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix |
 Fertilizing | Palm Fertilizer |
 Origin | SE Asia |
 California native | No |
 Sunset zones | 16, 17, 19–24 |
Growing Notes
This solitary palm will grow only one trunk during its lifetime.
Once it's mature, this palm will naturally shed its leaves, leaving the trunk below the palm's crown exposed. However, its enormous leaves may need manual removal before they naturally fall.
Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients, especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves.
This palm is monocarpic, meaning that once it is fully mature, blooms and sets fruit, it will die. Don't worry, this takes several decades. The upside of monocarpic palms is that they are very fast growing, giving almost immediate impact in the garden.
Do not handle the fruits without gloves as they will irritate the skin.
Special Interest
This palm's juicy lush look is an absolute must-have when creating a tropical garden in a temperate climate. Mix it with other broad-leafed plants like cannas, hedychiums, philodendrons, or monsteras.
Stories featuring this plant
Garden storyFlora Grubb’s New Home GardenAbout twelve years ago, Flora Grubb, co-owner and co-founder of Flora Grubb Gardens, moved and began working on a new garden. No garden is ever finished, but Flora decided this garden is ready to share with you.
Garden storyThe Ultimate Guide to Growing Palm Trees in Coastal CaliforniaWe can grow many kinds of palms in our coastal California gardens — palm trees, shrubby palms, bamboo palms, little foliage palms — lucky us! Our guide to everything palm has all the info you need to make the best selections for your garden.
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The above information reflects the observations of Grubb and Nadler and our extended plant community. We always consider input from fellow horticulturists and welcome feedback from those with additional information on the culture of this plant.
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