FNPS Plant Database

Coccothrinax argentata

Florida silver palm
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Florida silver palm

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Coccothrinax argentata

Family:

Arecaceae (Palmae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

palm

Size:

5-20 ft tall by to 5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,NA

Fruit Color:

red,purple

Phenology:

Evergreen. Slow growing.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

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

Considerations:

Slow growing.

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

De-pulped seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host for monk skipper ( Asbolis capucinus ).





Bees are attracted to the flowers (Khorsand 2009).

Used by birds for nesting and food.

Native Habitats:

Pine rockland, rockland hammock, maritime hammock

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

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.

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+), Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Coccarge ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


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


Minno, Marc and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Rosa, R. K., and S. Koptur. (2009). Preliminary observations and analyses of pollination in Coccothrinax argentata: do insects play a role?. Palms, 53(2).


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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