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Wodyetia bifurcata

COMMON NAMES

Foxtail Palm

Wodyetia (wod-YET-ee-ah) – named in honor of ‘Wodyeti’, an Australian aborigine

bifurcata (by-fur-KAY-tuh) – twice-divided, in reference to leaves and fibers of fruit

GROUP 

Monocot

FAMILY 

Arecaceae

ORIGIN

Australia

DESCRIPTION

Foxtail Palm is a palm tree that averages 25 to 30 feet in height with a 15 to 20 foot width. Its habit of growth is erect with a symmetrical crown and a single trunk. It has a moderate to fast growth rate.

Leaves are evergreen, pinnately compound with radiating leaflets that are about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide and resembling a fox’s tail (hence, the common name), 8 to 10 feet long, arching, and feathery. They are medium to dark green in color.

The trunk is solitary with closely spaced leaf scars and gray in color. The trunk will sometimes be enlarged in the middle or be slightly bottle-shaped.

It is monoecious with flowers that are small and creamy white in color. The flowers are borne in large, clustering inflorescences at the base of the crown.

Fruit are borne in clusters and are oval, reddish-orange, and about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide containing a single seed.

HARDINESS

It is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11. It tolerates a light frost when mature. It is being grown in zone 9, but it is subject to serious damage with freezes.

Cold Damage on Palms – University of Florida

LIGHT

Full sun; will tolerate some shade

SALT

Moderate to Good Salt Spray Tolerance – it will grow near the shore but will benefit from a little protection such as behind the first row of plantings or behind the first dunes. 

SOIL

It prefers a moister well-drained soil, but it will tolerate a wide range of other soils in the pH range of 5.6 to 7.8. 

WATERING

It has moderate drought tolerance once established, so some water is needed for survival in dry spells. As with most plants, though, ample irrigation in droughts keeps it healthier and looking better.

PROPAGATION

Seed with an average of 2 to 4 months germination time in warm soil and slightly scarified seed coat.

PRUNING

Pruning is basically limited to trimming off dead fronds, though it is fairly self-cleaning. 

Pruning Palms – University of Florida

FERTILIZING

As with most palms, it is best to use a fertilizer specially blended for palms as it provides the proper nutritional balance and minor elements, especially manganese, potassium, and iron, that are needed by the tree.

Manganese Deficiency in Palms – University of Florida

Potassium Deficiency in Palms – University of Florida 

Magnesium Deficiency in Palms – University of Florida

Boron Deficiency in Palms – University of Florida 

Iron Deficiency in Palms – University of Florida

Nitrogen Deficiency in Palms – University of Florida 

PESTS

Palm Leaf Skeletonizer - University of Florida

Scale - University of California

Banana Moth - University of Florida

Rugose Spiraling Whitefly - University of Florida

Greenhouse Thrips - University of Florida

Awl Nematode - University of Florida

American Grasshopper - University of Florida

DISEASES

Calonectria (Cylindrocladium) Leaf Spot - University of Florida

Thielaviopsis Trunk Rot - University of Florida

Ganoderma Butt Rot - University of Florida

DEER

Resistant

There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything. At some point the tree would be high enough that it would no longer even be a factor.

OTHER

Normal “Abnormalities” in Palms – University of Florida

USES

General landscape palm – as a single specimen or grouped, containers – including some indoor applications

TOXICITY

A search of California Poison Control, ASPCA, Texas A&M University, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Wisconsin, Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals - Merck Vet Manual, Purdue University - Guide to Toxic Plants in Forages, Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States - Alabama Cooperative Extension, Florida Poison Control, and The Cat Fanciers Association did not show this plant on any of their lists.