The Caryotas, as a genus there are some pretty amazing varieties and they can get rather large. The mitis is no exception a large clump can be a bit of a mess to the eye. I like them to a certain degree, but iam yet to be fully converted about them before I start planting hundreds of them around the garden.

Easy to grow and germinate with some cool tolerance, and they will tolerate a dry season, that given they are true water lovers and will drink whatever you give them.

I like 'em, can't grow 'em tho!

I have some around the garden and most have been in the ground for many years . They do like water and a bit of shade in my climate . The shade grown ones definitely look better here. Some can get rather large. Harry

I do love them

On 7/28/2026 at 9:35 PM, Jonathan said:

I like 'em, can't grow 'em tho!

You need monostachya, I hear that’s cool tolerant!

22 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I have some around the garden and most have been in the ground for many years . They do like water and a bit of shade in my climate . The shade grown ones definitely look better here. Some can get rather large. Harry

They do love a bit of water, and shade. A big clump is a bit difficult to keep in order. I thin out the suckers on my one so it doesn’t get out of control.

Richard

They can get a bit more than anticipated , like Arenga Engleri . Sometimes that’s what we want , privacy or natural screen. They do a bit of self thinning when they flower . I cut the flowering stems out and that keeps them controlled. Harry

I had one too close to the house that I edited for that reason. It grew so fast and so big I was stunned. I started thinking about the trunks dyeing one at a time and them falling on my roof. Mine had 8 trunks of 6-8" caliper and was over 25' tall and not slowing down to my eye. One winter we had a freeze and it burned like almost every other leaf so it was pretty ugly then. Not very leaf hardy compared with my other palms, they are reportedly more cold tolerant than many of my palms, but less leaf hardy. Trimming the dead leaves was difficult with all the trunks and leaves. I decided the dead trunk falling thing was too much risk too close to the house, so I edited it and have one less problem these days. If I had known how big it would get I probably would not have planted it at that site.

19 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

They can get a bit more than anticipated , like Arenga Engleri . Sometimes that’s what we want , privacy or natural screen. They do a bit of self thinning when they flower . I cut the flowering stems out and that keeps them controlled. Harry

There best kept in check that’s for sure.

Richard

19 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

I had one too close to the house that I edited for that reason. It grew so fast and so big I was stunned. I started thinking about the trunks dyeing one at a time and them falling on my roof. Mine had 8 trunks of 6-8" caliper and was over 25' tall and not slowing down to my eye. One winter we had a freeze and it burned like almost every other leaf so it was pretty ugly then. Not very leaf hardy compared with my other palms, they are reportedly more cold tolerant than many of my palms, but less leaf hardy. Trimming the dead leaves was difficult with all the trunks and leaves. I decided the dead trunk falling thing was too much risk too close to the house, so I edited it and have one less problem these days. If I had known how big it would get I probably would not have planted it at that site.

That’s exactly what they can become, monsters out of control going on a rampage in the garden. And they are definitely best kept away from none gardening people who just want a palm by the pool or in that tiny courtyard. With no real knowledge of palms they can be a disaster in the wrong hands!

7 hours ago, happypalms said:

That’s exactly what they can become, monsters out of control going on a rampage in the garden. And they are definitely best kept away from none gardening people who just want a palm by the pool or in that tiny courtyard. With no real knowledge of palms they can be a disaster in the wrong hands!

Most problematic trim Ive ever done with half dead leaves hanging on and no not the lower ones necessarily. I also cut off many succors or it would have had 20 trunks. Looked great green, but the cold made it a big ugly headache and I knew that 7' from the house was too close. more like 20'. I only had so many spots in my yard and this thing sucked up the space of 3 palms. I replaced it with a archontophoenix purpurea which grows very slowly and a satakentia which now has 8 1/2 feet of trunk. Too many palms I like and not enough room for them all in the outdoor garden. Shady or even half day shade spots are especially scarce in my yard.

This is one that I have been able to keep under control. Harry

It has enjoyed giving us a garden view over our main bathtub in our master bedroom without the need for a curtain. I planted this over 20 years ago . I bought it from Jungle Music as a Caryota “ something” ( I forget , but rare ) single trunk . I called Phil when it started suckering and he said it got mixed up and is indeed C. Mitis .🙁Last year I cut 3-4 huge , flowering trunks out and thinned the base. There are plenty of younger stems that will be tall enough when the next , older trunks flower. It seems perpetually regenerating . This is one of my smallest clumps , others are used for privacy and are much bigger!

On 7/31/2026 at 1:47 AM, sonoranfans said:

Most problematic trim Ive ever done with half dead leaves hanging on and no not the lower ones necessarily. I also cut off many succors or it would have had 20 trunks. Looked great green, but the cold made it a big ugly headache and I knew that 7' from the house was too close. more like 20'. I only had so many spots in my yard and this thing sucked up the space of 3 palms. I replaced it with a archontophoenix purpurea which grows very slowly and a satakentia which now has 8 1/2 feet of trunk. Too many palms I like and not enough room for them all in the outdoor garden. Shady or even half day shade spots are especially scarce in my yard.

The trick is don’t plant them anywhere near anything, a bit like bamboo, when they get out of hand it’s disaster.

Mitis is no different just keep them out of the main garden, imagine A million dollar property and having them side by side at the main entrance to the house, totally out of control, it would certainly look unsightly.

Those trays of seedlings I have are from a variegated mitis seed purchase, with not one variegated in the whole batch. So it’s compost heap for them or giving them away to a nursery for a few bucks.

I just don’t want that many in my garden!

On 7/31/2026 at 2:20 AM, Harry’s Palms said:

This is one that I have been able to keep under control. Harry

It has enjoyed giving us a garden view over our main bathtub in our master bedroom without the need for a curtain. I planted this over 20 years ago . I bought it from Jungle Music as a Caryota “ something” ( I forget , but rare ) single trunk . I called Phil when it started suckering and he said it got mixed up and is indeed C. Mitis .🙁Last year I cut 3-4 huge , flowering trunks out and thinned the base. There are plenty of younger stems that will be tall enough when the next , older trunks flower. It seems perpetually regenerating . This is one of my smallest clumps , others are used for privacy and are much bigger!

That’s the best approach, well maintained, you’re one is a great example of it could go wrong. Except it’s in the hands of a skilled gardener who is fully aware of the monster within, taming the beast with his skills as a gardener!

Richard

5 hours ago, Motlife said:

Even the kiwis have them, nice one across the ditch!

17 hours ago, happypalms said:

Even the kiwis have them, nice one across the ditch!

Yeh, it seems to be doing alright. I think they grow pretty well up around Auckland and Northland.

Dunno what is going on with posting though, I had written a reply to Jonathan's post with the picture and it all seems to be deleted when posting! I think that's the second time that's happened.

Anyway, I was saying that it does alright for me, just quite slow. Winter doesn't seem to faze it kept away from frost. I just moved them from a shady spot on the south side of the house to the north, but still out of most direct summer sun. Hopefully the extra warmth will speed it up. It seems to grow similar to Arenga engleri here, only 1-2 leaves per year, although the mitis keeps making more offsets

On 7/28/2026 at 11:35 PM, Jonathan said:

I like 'em, can't grow 'em tho!

On 7/28/2026 at 9:35 PM, Jonathan said:

I like 'em, can't grow 'em tho!

And iam sure that list of what you can’t grow is rather long, how long you ask, well how long is a piece of string?

3 hours ago, Motlife said:

Yeh, it seems to be doing alright. I think they grow pretty well up around Auckland and Northland.

Dunno what is going on with posting though, I had written a reply to Jonathan's post with the picture and it all seems to be deleted when posting! I think that's the second time that's happened.

Anyway, I was saying that it does alright for me, just quite slow. Winter doesn't seem to faze it kept away from frost. I just moved them from a shady spot on the south side of the house to the north, but still out of most direct summer sun. Hopefully the extra warmth will speed it up. It seems to grow similar to Arenga engleri here, only 1-2 leaves per year, although the mitis keeps making more offsets

You think of New Zealand and palms are not the first thing you think of. It certainly would have its challenges that for sure gor a palm growing. I just don’t think it’s the climate iam after for the tropical palms I grow and even then I have trouble with tropicals in my subtropical climate. Certainly there are palms I won’t even attempt to grow, but I will give most a try. Good on you for taking the plunge and giving it a go, palm availability would be you’re biggest concern, you just can’t get the varietys to try. But keep on trying I say!

4 hours ago, Motlife said:

Anyway, I was saying that it does alright for me, just quite slow. Winter doesn't seem to faze it kept away from frost. I just moved them from a shady spot on the south side of the house to the north, but still out of most direct summer sun. Hopefully the extra warmth will speed it up. It seems to grow similar to Arenga engleri here, only 1-2 leaves per year, although the mitis keeps making more offsets

I don't know you, buddy, and: Nice to meet you!

The Arenga engleri is doing great here. I have four in the garden. I also have Arenga micrantha, and that's good here too. They get filtered sunlight from other taller palm trees.

13 hours ago, happypalms said:

And iam sure that list of what you can’t grow is rather long, how long you ask, well how long is a piece of string?

It's an extensive list that's for sure...but it could worse!

17 hours ago, Motlife said:

Yeh, it seems to be doing alright. I think they grow pretty well up around Auckland and Northland.

Dunno what is going on with posting though, I had written a reply to Jonathan's post with the picture and it all seems to be deleted when posting! I think that's the second time that's happened.

Anyway, I was saying that it does alright for me, just quite slow. Winter doesn't seem to faze it kept away from frost. I just moved them from a shady spot on the south side of the house to the north, but still out of most direct summer sun. Hopefully the extra warmth will speed it up. It seems to grow similar to Arenga engleri here, only 1-2 leaves per year, although the mitis keeps making more offsets

Nice one Scott.

I'm hoping monostachya will be a more cool tolerant alternative and so hopefully a better grower, once they speed up a bit!

Also, have you tried Arenga micrantha? Seems a good alternative to engleri, growing nicely for me now. You might be able to get seed from @richnorm maybe??

Turns out if I write a post then insert a pic it deletes all the text when I posted it....

On 8/3/2026 at 7:59 PM, happypalms said:

You think of New Zealand and palms are not the first thing you think of. It certainly would have its challenges that for sure gor a palm growing. I just don’t think it’s the climate iam after for the tropical palms I grow and even then I have trouble with tropicals in my subtropical climate. Certainly there are palms I won’t even attempt to grow, but I will give most a try. Good on you for taking the plunge and giving it a go, palm availability would be you’re biggest concern, you just can’t get the varietys to try. But keep on trying I say!

I just wrote a reply talking about how chilly it is now, but at least NZ still looks quite tropical! This is Punakaiki today at about 42*S before dropping to about - 1C tonight. We definitely have our challenges with climate, but there are plenty of cool temperate and tropical highland plants that do well here, as long as we can get them!

12 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Nice one Scott.

I'm hoping monostachya will be a more cool tolerant alternative and so hopefully a better grower, once they speed up a bit!

Also, have you tried Arenga micrantha? Seems a good alternative to engleri, growing nicely for me now. You might be able to get seed from @richnorm maybe??

Monostachya looks cool, hopefully it does well. I had to look it up, had never heard of it. No clue if it's gettable in NZ! A. micrantha is a stunning palm. I bought 20 seeds a couple of months ago but nothing has happened yet unfortunately. There's a stunning plant in the botanical gardens in Christchurch so it must be pretty cold hardy. It snowed there today!

The Arenga micrantha in Chch botanical gardens (not added to the last post so as not to delete what I had written again!)

On 8/3/2026 at 9:35 PM, gyuseppe said:

I don't know you, buddy, and: Nice to meet you!

The Arenga engleri is doing great here. I have four in the garden. I also have Arenga micrantha, and that's good here too. They get filtered sunlight from other taller palm trees.

Nice to meet you! Good to hear they're doing well for you