Our Thai Mountain Giant Palms are Flowering, so Say Goodbye.

 Our Thai Mountain Giant Palms are Flowering, so Say Goodbye. 

Caryota obtusa palms in flower with our horticulturist Dawn for scale. 

The Thai Mountain Giant palm, Caryota obtusa (aka C. gigas), is an uncommon species of palm, which as the name suggests comes from Thailand and can grow to impressive dimensions. In their native habitat they can grow up to 60' of trunk and live 25 years before flowering. 

Caryota species are somewhat unique in the palm world, as they are monocarpic. In layman's terms that means they only flower just before dying. With the related, common species of Clustering Fishtail palm, Caryota mitis, each trunk dies after flowering, but the rest of the clump will continue living for many years afterward as it continues to produce new trunks within the clump. 

Unfortunately for our Thai Giant Mountain palms, they only live for about 15-20 years before putting off a single massive flower display and dying afterward.  These palms are currently flowering and fruiting in the Flowering Tree Walk behind the bear and otter habitats, and may continue doing so for several months to a year. When the flowers stop blooming, these palms will be gone for good, so come see them and bid them farewell while they are still on display.