Caryota

Caryota urens

Jaggery Palm

Caryota urens is a tall fishtail palm from the moist tropical forests of India and Sri Lanka, where it grows as an understory-to-canopy tree in warm, humid conditions. Give it bright indirect light and a well-draining mix, watering when the top inch or two of soil has dried; it tolerates a short dry spell better than sitting soggy, which invites root rot. As a palm it dislikes cold drafts and prefers steady warmth.

Caryota mitis

Burmese Fishtail Palm

Caryota mitis is a clustering fishtail palm from the warm, humid forests of tropical and subtropical Asia, where it grows as an understory to canopy-edge tree. Give it bright indirect light and warmth, and water when the top inch or two of mix has dried, letting it approach dryness between waterings rather than staying soggy. It wants steady humidity and good drainage; standing water at the roots invites rot.

Caryota maxima

Fishtail Palm

Caryota maxima is the giant fishtail palm, a large tree native to the warm, humid monsoon forests of South and Southeast Asia, where it grows in dappled understory light before reaching the canopy. Indoors it wants bright indirect light, warmth, and steady humidity, with an evenly moist but never waterlogged root zone. Water when the top inch or two of mix has dried; let it approach dryness between waterings rather than sitting wet, which invites root rot.