Leucothrinax morrisii
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Brittle Thatch Palm, Key Thatch Palm
Arecaceae (Palmae)
Also known as Thrinax morrisii
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Palm | |
| Size: | 6-15 ft tall by 5-10 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | White | |
| Fruit Color: | White | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen, slow growing. Blooms all year with spring maximum. | |
| Noted for: | Aroma, fragrance, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen tree, understory tree. It grows slowly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | De-pulped seed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Calcareous (high pH) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Used as a bird nesting area and food source. | |
| Insects: | Larval host plant for monk skipper (Asbolis capucinus) butterflies. | |
| Native Habitats: | Coastal strand, maritime hammock, pine rockland, rockland hammock, coastal berm |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | The fan-shaped leaves are about 3 feet across and have silvery undersides. Listed as Endangered by the FDACS. Please act responsibly and acquire only from properly licensed nurseries. |