Foxtail Palm
Wodyetia bifurcata
Foxtail Palm
Urban Forest Tree Walk
Scientific Name
Wodyetia bifurcata
Location
The Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) is one of the most elegant and widely admired palms in tropical and subtropical landscaping. Native to a remote region of northeastern Australia, this palm has skyrocketed in popularity around the world—including in South Florida—thanks to its tidy form, self-cleaning trunk, and lush, full crown that resembles a fox’s bushy tail.
Growing 20 to 30 feet tall, the Foxtail Palm features a smooth, gray trunk with a prominent green crownshaft and a perfectly symmetrical canopy of feathery, arching fronds. Each frond is made up of hundreds of narrow leaflets radiating out in all directions, giving it a soft, fluffy appearance—like a tropical fox tail blowing in the breeze. In addition to its visual appeal, it’s a relatively fast grower and low-maintenance, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil.
The Foxtail Palm is drought-tolerant once established and can handle coastal conditions, making it ideal for modern landscapes, poolside plantings, and tropical garden designs. Whether planted alone as a specimen or in a row for a formal avenue look, it brings upscale tropical style with minimal fuss.
Fast Facts
Fronds Like a Fox
Its namesake comes from its dense, fluffy fronds that look just like a fox’s tail. The fine-textured leaves swirl outward in a symmetrical burst, making it one of the most graceful palms in the landscape.
Hometown
The Foxtail Palm is native to the Cape Melville region of Queensland, Australia. Once an obscure species known only to local Indigenous people, it became globally popular after being discovered by scientists in the 1970s.
Self-Cleaning Chic
Forget the ladder—Foxtail Palms are self-cleaning! Old fronds fall off cleanly on their own, leaving behind a smooth trunk with minimal maintenance required, perfect for polished, low-effort tropical spaces.
