FNPS Plant Database

Acoelorraphe wrightii

paurotis palm, Everglades palm

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

paurotis palm, Everglades palm

Synonym(s):

Paurotis wrightii

Genus species:

Acoelorraphe wrightii

Family:

Arecaceae (Palmae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

20 to 35 feet ft tall by 15 to 25 feet ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,green

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

evergreen. Blooms late winter into early spring. Fruits ripen in fall.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Thorns, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant, typically forms clumps of stems,the young fan-shaped fronds hide the principal stems. The lower fronds can be removed so that the trunks can be clearly seen. Sometimes used as a street tree.

Considerations:

Leaf stalks bear spines.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Friends

Propagation:

De-pulped seed, or by breaking up a clump.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock, Organic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Attracts bees.

Fruits spread by birds.

Native Habitats:

Moist hammocks, swamps, but can adapt to drier sites.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Huegel, Craig, N.  2010.  Native plant landscaping for Florida wildlife.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. (wildlife uses).



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Watkins, John and Thomas Sheehan.  1975.  Florida Landscapt Plants, Native and Exotic. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville. (salt tolerance, soil, moisture)



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Request an update