Foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata)

Wodyetia bifurcata is an evergreen palm-like tree, mainly with a single trunk; sources describe its habit somewhat differently.

LightWodyetia bifurcata grows in full sun and requires bright light when grown indoors.

WaterWater moderately after the surface soil has dried; sources also describe the plant as drought tolerant.

TemperatureA lower temperature of about -1.1 °C is reported, though sources are few. A USDA hardiness classification is reported, though it comes from a single source. It is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost.

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Overview

Wodyetia bifurcata is an evergreen palm-like tree, mainly with a single trunk; sources describe its habit somewhat differently.

Origin and habitat

Wodyetia bifurcata is native to a very restricted area around Cape Melville in northeastern Queensland, Australia, within Cape Melville National Park, and is now widely cultivated in tropical regions worldwide. It is reported to grow naturally on south-facing slopes among large granite boulders, in vine thickets and adjacent rainforest, on coarse sandy soil, from near sea level into higher terrain, and it can be dominant in local plant communities. Native to tropical northeastern Australia, it prefers warm, humid, sunny conditions in cultivation and is widely grown in tropical and subtropical landscapes.

Characteristics

Mature height is reported at about 600–1500 cm, although sources differ. The large pinnate leaves are concentrated at the top of the stem, with lanceolate leaflets arranged radially or in whorls along the rachis and divided into many segments, creating a dense, fluffy, foxtail-like appearance. The plant is monoecious with separate male and female flowers; inflorescences arise near the base of the crownshaft, and flowers occur in groups containing female and male flowers, while sources differ in describing the flowers as yellow-green or white. The fruit is a drupe that becomes orange-red to reddish orange when mature and contains a large seed; sources differ in their descriptions of the fruit.

Light

Wodyetia bifurcata grows in full sun and requires bright light when grown indoors.

Watering

Water moderately after the surface soil has dried; sources also describe the plant as drought tolerant.

Temperature and dormancy

A lower temperature of about -1.1 °C is reported, though sources are few. A USDA hardiness classification is reported, though it comes from a single source. It is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost.

Growing medium and mounting

In its native habitat, Wodyetia bifurcata is reported from coarse sandy soils and slopes with granite boulders.

Propagation

Wodyetia bifurcata is reported to be propagated from seed.

Common problems

Mature plants can withstand brief light frost, while young plants require protection from cold; other sources describe the species as drought tolerant and wind resistant.

Identification

The most conspicuous feature is the dense, fluffy, foxtail-like crown formed by leaflets and segments arranged around the rachis; the trunk is smooth with prominent ring-shaped leaf scars, and mature fruit is orange-red.

Photos

Sources

GBIF Backbone: Wodyetia bifurcata A.K.Irvine — CC BY 4.0 · link
Wikipedia (en): Wodyetia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link
維基百科：狐尾椰子 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link
Wikipedia (en): Wodyetia bifurcata — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link