Caryota urens

Caryota urens, the toddy, jaggery or kitul palm, is a tall, single-trunked fishtail palm native to India and Sri Lanka. Its huge, twice-divided leaves end in ragged, wedge-shaped leaflets shaped like a fish's tail.

After 10–20 years of leafy growth it produces a long series of hanging flower clusters, working downwards from the crown, and dies once the last fruits ripen. For centuries its sap has been boiled down into palm sugar and syrup in southern India and Sri Lanka. In gardens it is a dramatic, very fast-growing palm.

At a glance

• Native range: India and Sri Lanka
• Mature size: usually 12–20 m
• Growth rate: very fast once planted out
• Light: full sun once established; young plants tolerate shade
• Water: generous, in rich, humus-rich, well-drained soil
• Cold hardiness: brief frosts to about −4 °C for well-grown plants
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in mild coastal gardens; grown under glass in large palm houses

Care

Feed and water generously; plants that dry out show brown leaflet tips. In hot inland areas, young leaves can scorch in strong sun. The fruit contains crystals that irritate skin, so wear gloves when handling it. Removing the flower clusters does not prolong the palm's life.

Why Palmpedia: Every plant is grown in our greenhouse in Almeirim, Portugal, and leaves us in a 15 L to 35 L pot.