Question: I'm not exactly sure what type of palm tree this is but I was wondering if I could use it for Hugelkultur (burying it in the ground as a form of compost for my plants). I realise some trees (eg. Eucalyptus) are not good for this technique.

[![Palm tree I would like to use for Hugelkultur](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2Uhof.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2Uhof.jpg)

Answer: 
Palm is a grass. It rots fast. So does not last long. It has a long fiber. It holds water, So is good for wicking water into the soil. It forms a good black mulch & loosens soil. But needs replaced often as low in minerals. So good for growing things for about 6 months. Best used as a soil fiber restorer. We use it here as a mulch. Or let the trees just rot out on the ground when we replant them. It seems to work best in sandy soil. Good for potted plants as a moisture holder. As a mulch works well around out Mango, lemon, lime, mango trees. & coconut & banana trees. There we just cut them up & lay on ground around the trees. Let them rot into the soil.
Cool question. I did some digging around but could not come up with a definitive answer so here goes with some peripheral reasoning:

1. chopped coir fibres are often used in horticulture as a peat substitute - you know, coconut, palm ...
2. most sources I read where people were trying [hugelkultur with palm](https://permies.com/t/28770/Palm-fronds-hugelkultur) it was of the nature of an experiment; but of course the author forgets to update the article a few years later to show whether it worked or not
3. on many sites, when they [list those woods you should not use](https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/many-benefits-hugelkultur) there is a specific scientific reason why not: locust does not rot, walnut poisons the soil and so on; but, take a look at the selection of images you get with a Google search for images related to "plants at the base of a palm tree" and I invite you to draw your own conclusions whether palm frightens off other plants at the base.

I'd go for it.

PS see [What woods shouldn't be used for hugelkultur?](https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/412/what-woods-shouldnt-be-used-for-hugelkultur) - @daniel-bingham might have some good input on this.