Thika palm

Thika palm

Filicium decipiens

Origin: Indigenous

The elegant Thika palm is well loved in Kenya. It’s a stunning evergreen to semi-deciduous tree reaching heights of 6-10 meters, boasting a rounded crown that often forms a dense canopy. Its bark starts as smooth grey, transitioning to dark brown and eventually developing a rough, cracking texture with age. Admired for its compound leaves, of up to 30 cm long, Thika palm features wing-like protrusions along the middle stalk and 3-10 pairs of leaflets, each adorned with lighter dots on young foliage. Delicate white flowers bloom in small, branched heads approximately 15 cm long, emerging from the sides of branches, leading to elongated purple-black fruits, each about 1 mm long, when ripe and fleshy.

Thika Palm serves various purposes, including as firewood, for shade, ornamental beauty, and crafting small implements. Thika plam fruit is eaten by birds.

Notably, this tree has surged in popularity as an ornamental choice in recent years, owing to its lush glossy compound leaves, reminiscent of a palm tree, hence the nickname ‘Thika Palm’. Belonging to the small genus Filicium, comprising no more than three species.