This extremely popular palm is seen throughout hotel and resort landscapes, and along the central reservation areas of roads in some Thai towns (they are generally a little too big for the average domestic garden, growing up to 20 metres when fully mature).
Originally from Africa, they are usually grown in large plantations and are an extremely important source of vegetable oil, which can be extracted from its fruit.
The oil palm develops a very thick, distinctive scaley trunk, and impressively large spreading crowns, which offer excellent shade and sun protection.
