Traveler's Palm

Ravenala madagascariensis

Not a True Palm
Dramatic Fan Silhouette
Large Specimen

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

Not a food plant; no preparation guidance given.

Hazard type

The NC State page lists no poison information. That is not a statement that the plant is safe.

Hazard route

Not yet checked.

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

Genuinely unassessed by ASPCA, not cleared. Since this is not a true palm (see family note), the general true-palm ASPCA pattern noted in other palm guides does not really apply here one way or the other: there simply isn't a comparable family-level signal to lean on. Treated as having no verdict, on its own evidence.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 10a-11b (NC State Extension): runs warmer than central Florida; likely to need cold protection or container culture outside the warmest parts of Florida.
Mature size: 30-50 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide in its native habitat (NC State Extension): a large specimen plant needing real space.
Where it comes from: Eastern and southeastern Madagascar (NC State Extension).

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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