The Caryota mitis is a clustering fishtail palm native to southeast Asia. The C. mitis occurs in tropical rainforests in India, Shri Lanka and Malaysia.

The fishtail palm forms numerous slender stems growing from the base. It forms huge clumps 20-25 feet high and 12 feet wide. The leaves are bipinnate with fishtail leaflets. Each stem produces flowers from the top down. After the last flowering the blooming trunk dies, but other stems will survive and continue to produce new suckers.The fruits are irritant.

 The caryota mitis is easy to care for. It grows well in shade to full sun. It requires lots of water and good drainage. The fishtail palm can tolerate light frost. It is also highly drought tolerant.

This Fishtail palm tree is very common in cultivation. The great ornamental is often used as a screening plant. The caryota Mitis makes a wonderful interior plant.

In its native habitat the Caryota palm cabbage is used as food, the leaves are used for thatch and the sap is used to make wine and sugar.

The caryota Mitis is invasive in South Florida.

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