Wine Palm, Solitary Fishtail Palm, Toddy Palm

Frost Tolerance: 26°F (-3°C) when mature, young plants are more cold sensitive

Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.

Origin: India, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, at low elevation

Growth Habits: Fast growing solitary feather palm, up to 100 feet tall (30 m) in the wild, generally less than 30 feet (9 m) in the US; gray trunk with regularly spaced leaf scar rings, 10 to 16 inches in diameter (25-40 cm); bipinnate leaves, 10 to 20 feet long (3-6 m) with dark green wedge shaped leaflets, 4 to 8 inches long (10-20 cm), about 4 inches wide 10 cm), resembling the lower fin of a fish

Watering Needs: Regular water, keep soil moist

Propagation: Seeds, generally germinate between 4 and 12 months

The sap contains a significant percentage of sugar, and is used to make an alcoholic drink. The tree is source of fibers, named kittul.

Blooming Habits:
The cream-colored flowers, on elongate inflorescences, up to 20 feet long (6 m), appears first at the highest leaf level and then keep appearing lower. The tree dies when it finishes blooming.

Fruiting Habits:
The red fruits, 0.8 inch in diameter (2 cm), contain oxalic acid, and are toxic if ingested, they also need to be handled with care since the juice can burn the skin. They contain 1 or 2 dull gray seeds.