ARTIFICIAL FISHTAIL PALM TREE FOR FAUX TROPICAL LANDSCAPES
We've replicated our Fishtail Palm Tree and Giant Fishtail Palms after the living Caryota Mitis. The Fishtail Palms developed by Commercial Silk Int'l can be impregnated with our fire retardant, to insure consistent fire protection for you interior landscaping needs.
Fishtail Palms add a wonderful tropical element to any landscape. The species is native to Asia, Indonesia, and the South Pacific. It now also grows in Suriname and in South Florida nurseries. The palm has slender multiple stems, and the stem clumps grow up to thirty feet tall.
Mop-like clusters of flowers develop from the top of a mature Fishtail palm, and subsequent flower clusters continue to emerge below. The flowers appear in threes, one female flower in between two male ones. Because the fishtail palm is monocarpic, the stem dies after the cluster has reached the ground. The palm clump survives this process as numerous suckers grow at the base of the palm, producing more stems.
Fishtail Palms are named for their exotic triangular leaflets, which can reach nine feet in length. The leaves are deep green and leathery with a ragged edge, and resemble the tail fin of an ornamental fish. It is the only palm with leaves that are subdivided twice. Similar to other palm trees, the Fishtail Palm cannot be pruned back to reduce height, as new growth comes from a high central growing point.
Contact with the red fruit produced by this palm should be avoided. The fruit contains stinging crystals in the oxalic acid of the pulp, which is toxic when ingested, and contact with skin may result in severe chemical burns.
Although the fruit is not edible, the palm does provide other uses as food. An edible starch is extracted from the stem, and the palm heart eaten. It is also tapped for sap which is made into palm sugar.
In addition to providing food, we can use the fuzz from young leaves as tinder to start a fire. The palm is also used in construction. The leaves can be used for thatching, or woven into household items, the fibers from the leaf sheath are made into rope, and palm seeds made into beads.
Fishtail Palms thrive in full sun to deep shade, and does well in the warmest parts of Zone 9. It will tolerate light frosts, but is not hardy. Reddish-brown dead areas will appear on the leaves from a cold injury. The palm has a moderate to rapid rate of growth, and it needs to be kept moist. The soil mix must be porous for excellent drainage. Fishtail Palms should never sit in standing water, as root rot can occur from overly frequent watering. On the flip side, a lack of water or dry air can cause browning of the leaves. Excessive iron fertilization will also brown-spot the foliage. Fertilization is necessary only when the plant is actively growing. Use a dilute liquid fertilizer or a slow-release fertilizer in the palm's container.
