General Landscape Uses:
Accent or specimen shrub.
Availability:
Widely available in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast and South Florida.
Description: Shrublike evergreen palm that is mostly single stemmed and has a short trunk covered in 8-10 inch long sharp-pointed needles.
Dimensions: Typically 3-8 feet in height, as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Slow.
Range:
Southern United States south to Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Osceola, and Brevard counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Habitats: Moist woodlands.
Soils: Moist very moist, moderately well-drained to poorly drained organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements: High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Moderate to light shade.
Flower Color: Creamy brown.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Late spring.
Fruit: Hard brown drupes.
Wildlife and Ecology: Fruits eaten by black bears. Provides cover for wildlife.
References: Mellichamp (
2014), Huegel 2010
Comments: We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.
