Common Name:

Florida silver palm

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Coccothrinax argentata

Family:

Arecaceae (Palmae)

Form:

palm

Size:

5-20 ft tall by to 5 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red, purple

Phenology:

evergreen; slow-growing

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant. Slow-growing hedge or background plant. Notable for the silver-white undersides to its leaves.

Considerations:

slow-growing

Availability:

Propagation:

de-pulped seed

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Humus (organic, upland), Lime Rock, Sand

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

10A, 10B, 11

Wildlife:

Used by birds for nesting and food.

Larval host for monk skipper (Asbolis capucinus). Bees are attracted to the flowers (Khorsand 2009).

Native Habitats:

Pine rockland, rockland hammock, maritime hammock

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

In the West Indies, it is used for making baskets, hats and other crafts. 

General Comments:

It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.  Should be acquired only from properly licensed sources.