Fishtail Palm

Artificial Fishtail Palm Trees

Fishtail palms, known for the shape of their leaves, are a genus of palm known as Caryota. There are only about 13 species in existence and they are native to Asia and the South Pacific. Believe it or not, this species is used to make wine and sugar quite extensively still in parts of the world. They were introduced in the US to Florida and interestingly are now considered an invasive species as they grow fast and love the subtropical climate.

My wife and I love silk fishtail palms and we personally use one in our sun room that has tall ceilings. We have a dead corner that gets no sunlight and has a door to nowhere that we don’t use. So we decided to add some greenery to the space and it fit beautifully. One of the things we like about it in a large space is it has a much wider span than most items we sell. The tree we use has a canopy spanning about 6 feet wide and wonderful new growth leaves trailing up the center trunk. And it brings us great joy to see something tropical here in Nashville during the cold winter months.

One important thing to note about installing fake fishtail palms is they are quite top heavy. These products often come with a metal base that is designed to be dropped into the decorative container of your choice. I learned during my installation that it is not enough to sit the base into the planter. I had to cover it with about 12 inches of rock to stabilize it and stop it from toppling. We are using a 24 inch planter, so I added about 12 inches of pea stone, then the tree base, then another 12 inches of pea stone. Both the planter and the tree are going nowhere now. That being said, if you have to move it, make sure you use material that you can lift easily to secure it in place. Bricks would have worked just as well.

The last thing to consider is your space requirements. Being a larger tree you have to get out the trusty ruler and measure your space. Make sure you have the width and depth for a large palm like this to fit in. I recommend putting a couple of chairs or stools in the space to make sure it doesn’t feel cluttered and full, before making your purchase. If you are having a difficult time deciding, snap a few photos and email them to us. Our design experts would be happy to help you through your project needs.