Thika Palm (Filicium decipiens)

The Thika Palm (Filicium decipiens), also known as the Fern Tree or Japanese Fern Tree, is a beloved, elegant, medium-sized evergreen tree that has become one of the most characteristic and widely admired shade trees of East African urban landscapes, including Nairobi’s Thika Road (after which it is locally named). Its pinnate leaves have a distinctive, graceful, fern-like appearance with small, neat leaflets arranged along a distinctive winged rachis. It grows into a beautiful, dense, rounded canopy that provides excellent, year-round deep shade. Perfect for car parks, pavements, parks, and large garden shade planting.