Caryota mitis is an evergreen, flowering, multi-stemmed and clump-forming, perennial feather palm. This palm does not develop a crown shaft. The stems vary in height A multi-stemmed palm with numerous suckers growing up in clusters and well spaces rings.

Leaves are bipinnate, bright green in colour. Ascending leaves have long midribs. Spreading leaflets are broad to narrowly triangular, split at the tips like fishtails. The inflorescence is 25 to 45cm long with cream flowers. Fruits are yellowish-green turning orange or dark red.