Foxtail Palm Seed Facts

Description of Foxtail Palm

• The foxtail palm reaches 30 feet in a sunny, warm environment. Sensitive to temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, this palm is confined to and grows heartily in southern regions. Atop the trunk are feathery compound leaves that extend 8 to 10 feet; leaflets are silvery underneath and reach 6 inches long. The effect looks like a fox’s tail. Plants bear white flowers after 12 years, and fruits measure 2 inches long, turning a brilliant orange-red when mature. Each fruit encloses one seed.

A New Genus

• Dr. Irvine, in 1983, officially recognized the foxtail palm as a new palm genus from Australia. Foxtail palm is indigenous to northeastern Queensland, Australia, and belongs to an isolated population. The Environment Department of the Australian government describes the population as abundant but restricted in its growing range. Foxtail palm is the only species within the genus Wodyetia.

Seed Propagation

• Seeds of foxtail palm require scarification, meaning breaking of the seed coat, for successful germination. The University of Hawaii suggests rubbing the seed with sandpaper or carefully cutting part of the seed coat with a knife. Place seeds in a mixture of perlite and peat and provide ample water. Provide a humid environment for seeds; a heating pad, approximately 86 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, placed underneath the seed bed speeds germination. Seeds will germinate in about one to three months. Foxtail palms are sensitive to cold, so protect young seedlings from temperatures below freezing.

Seed Conservation

• The Australian government assigned a conservation status of “vulnerable” to the foxtail palm. Illegal seed collection is one of the main threats facing the protected population. The horticultural success of the tree and its highly prized seeds has, in part, placed the restricted population in peril. But the University of Florida points out that this situation is unnecessary because foxtail palms in landscapes readily produce seeds.