Mountain Fish Tail

Caryota ‘Himalaya’ is a named fishtail-palm selection recorded in botanical garden and plant-name sources as Caryota maxima ‘Himalaya’. Its English names include Himalayan fishtail palm and mountain fishtail palm. [Kew currently treats Caryota maxima as a synonym of Caryota urens](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:665614-1), while horticultural and garden records continue to use Caryota maxima for this named form. ## Identity and form The [Jerusalem Botanical Gardens record](https://jbg.gardenexplorer.org/taxon-8771.aspx) lists Caryota maxima ‘Himalaya’ as a living accession, and the [University of Melbourne plant-name index](https://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/new/Sorting/Caryota.html) records the same name and its English common names. Caryota palms have twice-divided leaves with jagged, fish-tail-shaped leaflets. ## Placement Confirm mature size and cold tolerance with a specialist familiar with this selection before choosing a site. The species placement varies among taxonomic references, so keep the Himalayan selection name attached when comparing plants. ## Maintenance [Caryota fruit contains oxalic-acid crystals](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:665636-1) that can irritate skin and membranes. Wear gloves when handling fallen fruit.