There 10-12 species of slow growing, long lived, dioecious, small, cluster stemmed palms, in this genus. They are found in shady tropical and subtropical and subtropical forest from Southern China to Thailand.   From bamboo like stems covered with interwoven fibers eventually becoming bare and ringed, it carries light or mid green leaves, arranged in spirals or loose tufts at the stem tips forming fan shaped fronds. Each leaf is almost dived to the base into 2-10 or more lobes.. Bears small yellow shaped, 3 petaled flowers in short panicles between the leaves.   The fruits are small berries, containing a single seed. Grow as a house plant.

Indoors, grow in soilless potting mix in bright filtered light. In the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water moderately in winter. Pot on or top dress in spring. Protect from strong wind and frost.

Prone to stigma leaf spots, cersospora leaf spots, spider mites, and scale insects.

R. excelsa ‘Zuikonishiki’ – R. flabelliformis ‘Zuikonishiki’ – Miniature Fan Palm – Lady Palm – This slow growing, small, multi stemmed clump forming palm rarely grows more then 24″ inches tall and wide. From erect, bamboo or reed like stems covered in brown interwoven fibers carries long stalked, deeply lobed, lustrous, light to rich green fronds with yellow-variegated lobes, 8-12″ long, have 3-10 broadly to narrowly lance shaped finger like segment with blunt tips with leaf tips saw tips. Tiny, bowl shaped cream flowers are borne in panicles, to 5″ long, among the leaves in summer. Leaves may brown in full sun.

Zones 14-15

There 10-12 species of slow growing, long lived, dioecious, small, cluster stemmed palms, in this genus. They are found in shady tropical and subtropical and subtropical forest from Southern China to Thailand.   From bamboo like stems covered with interwoven fibers eventually becoming bare and ringed, it carries light or mid green leaves, arranged in spirals or loose tufts at the stem tips forming fan shaped fronds. Each leaf is almost dived to the base into 2-10 or more lobes.. Bears small yellow shaped, 3 petaled flowers in short panicles between the leaves.   The fruits are small berries, containing a single seed. Grow as a house plant.

Indoors, grow in soilless potting mix in bright filtered light. In the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water moderately in winter. Pot on or top dress in spring. Protect from strong wind and frost.

Prone to stigma leaf spots, cersospora leaf spots, spider mites, and scale insects.

R. excelsa – R. flabelliformis – Miniature Fan Palm – Lady Palm – This slow growing, small, multi stemmed clump forming palm from Southern China grows 5-15′ feet tall and wide. From erect, bamboo or reed like stems covered in brown interwoven fibers carries long stalked, deeply lobed, lustrous, light to rich green fronds, 8-12″ long, have 3-10 broadly to narrowly lance shaped finger like segment with blunt tips with leaf tips saw tips. Tiny, bowl shaped cream flowers are borne in panicles, to 5″ long, among the leaves in summer. Leaves may brown in full sun.

Zones 14-15

There 10-12 species of slow growing, long lived, dioecious, small, cluster stemmed palms, in this genus. They are found in shady tropical and subtropical and subtropical forest from Southern China to Thailand.   From bamboo like stems covered with interwoven fibers eventually becoming bare and ringed, it carries light or mid green leaves, arranged in spirals or loose tufts at the stem tips forming fan shaped fronds. Each leaf is almost dived to the base into 2-10 or more lobes.. Bears small yellow shaped, 3 petaled flowers in short panicles between the leaves.   The fruits are small berries, containing a single seed. Grow as a house plant.

Indoors, grow in soilless potting mix in bright filtered light. In the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water moderately in winter. Pot on or top dress in spring. Protect from strong wind and frost.

Prone to stigma leaf spots, cersospora leaf spots, spider mites, and scale insects.

R. excelsa ‘Variegata’ – R. flabelliformis ‘Variegata’ – Miniature Fan Palm – Lady Palm – This slow growing, small, multi stemmed clump forming palm grows 5-15′ feet tall and wide. From erect, bamboo or reed like stems covered in brown interwoven fibers carries long stalked, deeply lobed, lustrous, dark green fronds with a white stripe, 8-12″ long, have 3-10 broadly to narrowly lance shaped finger like segment with blunt tips with leaf tips saw tips. Tiny, bowl shaped cream flowers are borne in panicles, to 5″ long, among the leaves in summer. Leaves may brown in full sun.

Zones 14-15

There are about 12 species of large single and smaller multi stemmed, monoecious sometimes monocarpic palms, in this genus. They occur from India and Sri Lanka to Southeastern Asia, Northern Australia and the Solomon Islands from sea level to 7,000′ feet high in humid or monsoon climates. Huge bipinnate fronds each with a prominent sheathing base, are arranged in spirals on the upper part of each stem. ‘Fishtail’ refers to the shaped of the leaflets which are usually wedge or triangular shaped. The 3 petaled, cup shaped flowers are borne in large, pendent panicles just below the lowest leaf. Where not hardy grow as a specimen houseplant. In tropical regions fishtail palms are used as ornamental specimen trees, where they occur naturally they provide sago, palm wine and building materials.

Indoors, grow in soil based potting mix in bright filtered light and high humidity. Water freely during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter.

Outdoors, grow in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil with some midday shade.

Prone to spider mites, scale insects, fungal leaf spots, lethal yellowing, and false smut.

C. urens – Toddy Palm – Wine Palm – Jaggery Palm – Sago Palm – This medium to large, short lived (usually 30 years), fast growing, monocarpic palm from Eastern India, Sri Lanka and the Malaysian peninsula grows 30-80′ feet tall with a 30′ feet wide crown. It is has a single, sturdy trunk about 12″ diameter clothed with fibrous leaf bases. Arching, broadly linear, 2 pinnate, dark green leaves, 10-20′ feet long, have 6-50 obliquely wedge shaped leaflets, to 12″ long. Both the trunk and the large fronds bases are a chalky white in color. Panicles, 6-12′ feet long of cream flowers, ½-1 1/4″ across, are produces at the end of the tree’s life, first at the top of the tree, then from each leaf axil downward. It produces red fruit. The sugary sap is boiled down to make crud3e sugar, or is distilled into toddy.

Zones 10-12

There are about 12 species of large single and smaller multi stemmed, monoecious sometimes monocarpic palms, in this genus. They occur from India and Sri Lanka to Southeastern Asia, Northern Australia and the Solomon Islands from sea level to 7,000′ feet high in humid or monsoon climates. Huge bipinnate fronds each with a prominent sheathing base, are arranged in spirals on the upper part of each stem. ‘Fishtail’ refers to the shaped of the leaflets which are usually wedge or triangular shaped. The 3 petaled, cup shaped flowers are borne in large, pendent panicles just below the lowest leaf. Where not hardy grow as a specimen houseplant. In tropical regions fishtail palms are used as ornamental specimen trees, where they occur naturally they provide sago, palm wine and building materials.

Indoors, grow in soil based potting mix in bright filtered light and high humidity. Water freely during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter.

Outdoors, grow in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil with some midday shade.

Prone to spider mites, scale insects, fungal leaf spots, lethal yellowing, and false smut.

 C. remphiana – This palm from Indonesia through New Guinea to the Solomon Islands and far as Northeastern Australia is a single stemmed tree that reaches 60′ feet tall with a trunk 8-12″ diameter. The fronds are up to 15′ feet long and somewhat drooping at the tips, with narrow drooping leaflets. Flowering panicles are about 5′ feet long and the medium sized dark purple fruit each contain 1 or 2 seeds.

Zones 10-12

There are about 12 species of large single and smaller multi stemmed, monoecious sometimes monocarpic palms, in this genus. They occur from India and Sri Lanka to Southeastern Asia, Northern Australia and the Solomon Islands from sea level to 7,000′ feet high in humid or monsoon climates. Huge bipinnate fronds each with a prominent sheathing base, are arranged in spirals on the upper part of each stem. ‘Fishtail’ refers to the shaped of the leaflets which are usually wedge or triangular shaped. The 3 petaled, cup shaped flowers are borne in large, pendent panicles just below the lowest leaf. Where not hardy grow as a specimen houseplant. In tropical regions fishtail palms are used as ornamental specimen trees, where they occur naturally they provide sago, palm wine and building materials.

Indoors, grow in soil based potting mix in bright filtered light and high humidity. Water freely during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter.

Outdoors, grow in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil with some midday shade.

Prone to spider mites, scale insects, fungal leaf spots, lethal yellowing, and false smut.

 C. ochlandra – Chinese Fishtail Palm – This Single stemmed palm from Southern China grows to 25′ feet tall with a “ diameter trunk. Fronds are distributed along much of the trunk and have crowded, drooping, narrow leaflets. Flowering panicles hand down 6′ feet or more, and the large deep red fruit each contain 1 or 2 seeds.. It is the most cold hardy Fishtail and is known to survive light frost.

Zones 9-12

There are about 12 species of large single and smaller multi stemmed, monoecious sometimes monocarpic palms, in this genus. They occur from India and Sri Lanka to Southeastern Asia, Northern Australia and the Solomon Islands from sea level to 7,000′ feet high in humid or monsoon climates. Huge bipinnate fronds each with a prominent sheathing base, are arranged in spirals on the upper part of each stem. ‘Fishtail’ refers to the shaped of the leaflets which are usually wedge or triangular shaped. The 3 petaled, cup shaped flowers are borne in large, pendent panicles just below the lowest leaf. Where not hardy grow as a specimen houseplant. In tropical regions fishtail palms are used as ornamental specimen trees, where they occur naturally they provide sago, palm wine and building materials.

Indoors, grow in soil based potting mix in bright filtered light and high humidity. Water freely during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter.

Outdoors, grow in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil with some midday shade.

Prone to spider mites, scale insects, fungal leaf spots, lethal yellowing, and false smut.

C. no – Giant Fishtail Palm – This species is the largest of the fishtail palms growing 80′ feet tall with a single, gray trunk 24″ diameter. The vast fronds have stiffly spreading stalks but pendulous leaflets are up to 15′ feet long and 10′ feet wide. The flowering and fruit panicles many hang down almost 8-10′ feet. It makes very fast growth in wet, tropical lowlands and is therefore magnificent as an avenue palm. It can be grown successfully outside the tropics if protected from frost.

Zones 10-12

There are about 12 species of large single and smaller multi stemmed, monoecious sometimes monocarpic palms, in this genus. They occur from India and Sri Lanka to Southeastern Asia, Northern Australia and the Solomon Islands from sea level to 7,000′ feet high in humid or monsoon climates. Huge bipinnate fronds each with a prominent sheathing base, are arranged in spirals on the upper part of each stem. ‘Fishtail’ refers to the shaped of the leaflets which are usually wedge or triangular shaped. The 3 petaled, cup shaped flowers are borne in large, pendent panicles just below the lowest leaf. Where not hardy grow as a specimen houseplant. In tropical regions fishtail palms are used as ornamental specimen trees, where they occur naturally they provide sago, palm wine and building materials.

Indoors, grow in soil based potting mix in bright filtered light and high humidity. Water freely during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter.

Outdoors, grow in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil with some midday shade.

Prone to spider mites, scale insects, fungal leaf spots, lethal yellowing, and false smut.

C. mitis – Clustered Fishtail Palm – Burmese Fishtail Palm – This small to medium sized palm from rainforest in Southeaster Asia grows 10-40′ feet tall with a 10-22′ feet wide crown and a 3-4″ diameter trunk. The trunk is at first clothed with fibrous leaf bases, later bare. The broadly linear, 2 pinnate, rich green leaves are 6-12′ feet long, with 6-60, fishtail, asymmetrical 3 angled leaflets. In summer it bears pendent panicles, 12″ or more long, of cream flowers, to 3/4″ across, and bears marble sized fruit ripen to dark red. Prefer moist soils.

Zones 10-12