Caryota
Fishtail Palm
Arecaceae (Palmae)
Palms and cycads
These Southeast Asian natives are feather palms with huge, finely divided leaves made up of leaflets flattened and split at tips like fish tails. Plant in humus-rich soil that provides good drainage. Individual trunks die after flowering, which may not occur for 20 to 25 years.
Caryota mitisSlow grower 10 to 40 ft. tall, spreading 10 to 22 ft. Basal offshoots eventually form clustered trunks. Foliage light green. Very tender; thrives only in ideal environment.
Southeast Asia. Will probably reach 25 ft. and spread half as wide. Medium dark green leaves. It has survived to 26°F/-3°C.
Caryota urensHandsome single-stemmed palm grows to 50 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide in Southern California. A hardy, high-mountain selection, it is reported to withstand 20°F/-7°C once established. Arching, dark green leaves. Avoid handling fruit with bare hands; invisible crystals can cause severe itching.
Plectranthus argentatus
From Australia. Erect to spreading plant to 3 ft. high, 6 ft. or wider. Densely hairy, scallop-edged, ...
Allamanda blanchetii
Shrubby grower to 6–10 ft. tall and wide, often with a few vining stems. Leaves are somewhat downy. Ro...
Plectranthus
Close relatives of coleus; native to many tropical regions of the world. They have square stems, oppos...
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