Other Names:  Himalayan Fishtail Palm, Caryota giga

Description:

This beautiful palm typically forms a single, large, blackened trunk, topped with evenly spaced, large bi-pinnate leaves, creating a stunning lacey pattern in several tones of green; flowers and fruits only once, then dies; protect from wind

Ornamental Features

Black Trunk Fishtail Palm has attractive green evergreen foliage on a tree with the bulk of the canopy held atop a towering trunk or stem. The enormous fan-shaped bipinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. The rough dark gray bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Black Trunk Fishtail Palm is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a towering form, with a high canopy of foliage concentrated at the top of the plant. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a high maintenance tree that will require regular care and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects

Black Trunk Fishtail Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Vertical Accent
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Black Trunk Fishtail Palm will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a high canopy of foliage that sits well above the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Black Trunk Fishtail Palm is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.