See also: Date Palm

The Caryota Gigas is a giant fishtail palm that is native to China, Thailand and Laos. This Caryota palm is also known as the Thai mountain giant, it occurs in the mountains in Thailand. It is very similar to the Caryota obtusa. This fishtail palm tree is the largest of all the Fishtail palms. It grows 80-100 feet tall and has moderately fast to fast growth rate.

The C.gigas has huge, full, bipinnate with fishtail leaflets dark green leaves and a large, smooth, gray to brown trunk. This tree looks like a giant fern. The C. gigas can start flowering after growing over 50-60 feet. It  flowers for a decade, sets seeds and dies.

The amazing fishtail palm tree prefers full sun, plenty of water, and consistently moist well drained soils. It is highly salt and drought tolerant. The fishtail palm is hardy to 27 F. 

This is a beautiful ornamental for large public places. When young it is also can be used indoors.

In its naive habitat the palm heart is used as a food.

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