The Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii) and the Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) are popular choices for creating a tropical aesthetic in landscaping. Both feature smooth, slender trunks topped with graceful, arching fronds, often leading to confusion. Understanding the specific botanical and growth differences between the species is necessary for proper identification and informed planting decisions. This guide compares the Christmas Palm, native to the Philippines, and the Foxtail Palm, which originates in Australia’s Cape York Peninsula.
Distinguishing Frond and Trunk Features
The easiest way to distinguish these palms is by examining the structure of their fronds and the markings on their trunks. The Foxtail Palm’s crown is defined by its characteristic bushy, full appearance, giving it its common name. Its leaflets emerge from the central stem (rachis) at multiple angles, radiating outward in a 360-degree arrangement that resembles a fox’s tail plume. This dense, plumose foliage creates a softer, more voluminous silhouette.
The Christmas Palm, in contrast, has a cleaner, traditional feather-leaf (pinnate) appearance. Its leaflets are arranged in a defined V-shape along the rachis, resulting in a stiffer and less voluminous look. A definitive visual marker is the bright red, one-inch fruit it produces in clusters, which ripen around the winter holidays. Both species feature a smooth, gray trunk and a green crownshaft. The Christmas Palm’s trunk is typically more slender, with faint, evenly spaced rings from old leaf scars. The Foxtail Palm’s trunk often appears slightly bottle-shaped with a subtle swelling near the base in mature specimens.
Growth Rate and Mature Dimensions
Differences in growth rate and mature size are important factors for landscape design. The Christmas Palm is a medium-sized species, generally reaching 15 to 25 feet tall outdoors. Its canopy spread is relatively narrow, typically 6 to 10 feet wide, making it suitable for smaller yards or planting near structures. Although fast-growing when young, its growth rate slows significantly after it reaches about six feet of trunk height.
The Foxtail Palm has a relatively fast growth rate and ultimately becomes a larger specimen than the Christmas Palm. It frequently reaches 20 to 30 feet tall, sometimes growing up to 40 feet in ideal conditions. Due to its voluminous, plumose fronds, the Foxtail Palm develops a wider crown spread, often reaching 10 to 15 feet across. This requires more horizontal space in the landscape to accommodate its full, arching canopy.
Practical Differences in Cultivation
When considering environmental factors, the Foxtail Palm has an advantage in hardiness. The Christmas Palm is sensitive to cold; frond damage occurs around 35°F, and temperatures dropping to 28°F can cause death. This limits its outdoor cultivation primarily to USDA hardiness zones 10b through 11. The Foxtail Palm tolerates cold better, surviving temperatures as low as 25°F to 30°F for short durations, extending its reliable range into parts of zone 10a.
Both palms are self-cleaning, meaning old fronds drop off naturally, which reduces maintenance. They prefer well-drained soil and thrive in full sun, though the Christmas Palm is more adaptable and tolerates partial shade. The Foxtail Palm is drought-tolerant once established due to its deep root system, making it resilient during dry periods. The Christmas Palm is more susceptible to nutrient deficiencies, particularly boron, requiring consistent fertilization with a palm-specific blend to maintain health.