Hookers Fish Tail Palm

Arenga hookeriana is a small, clumping palm with cane-like stems and distinctive paddle-shaped leaves. The National Parks Board describes the leaves as glossy green above and silvery or whitish beneath, with deeply lobed, sharply toothed margins; its native range includes Thailand and Malaysia ([NParks](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2592)). ## Form and growing conditions This compact palm is suited to a sheltered tropical planting where its unusual foliage can be viewed close up. NParks reports a maximum height of 1.8 metres and a crown spread of about 1.6 metres, consistent with a small clump ([NParks](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2592)). It tolerates poor soils but prefers well-drained soil, moderate water and full sun to semishade ([NParks](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2592)). The sources consulted do not establish a USDA hardiness rating; in colder climates, use a protected warm setting and confirm local growing conditions before planting outdoors ([NParks](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2592)). ## Flowers and fruit Creamy white to orange flowers emerge on erect spikes from the stem nodes, followed by orange fruits ([NParks](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2592)). The sources describe the species as a clustered palm; leave room for its multiple stems and avoid placing it where the toothed leaf margins will brush a narrow path. ## Maintenance NParks lists seed propagation and division ([NParks](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2592)). Keep the soil draining freely and water moderately; remove only old or damaged foliage as needed. Kew currently treats the name Arenga hookeriana as a synonym of Arenga caudata, while NParks uses Arenga hookeriana for this species; this profile follows the catalog name and NParks usage ([Kew](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:664253-1); [NParks](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/5/2592)).