Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Photo by Shirley Denton. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 8A 8B 9A 9B
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Needle Palm
Arecaceae (Palmae)
Plant Specifics
| Size: | 6 ft tall by 6 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | White | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen. Flowers in spring (inconspicuous). Fruits ripen in fall. Slow growing. Life span likely 50+ years (Nelson 2003). | |
| Habitats: | Moist-wet sites. Seep slope forests, regularly but shallowly inundated floodplains, seepage swamps especially associated with springs, hydric seepage slopes, and at times, some of the adjacent non-hydric slope, hydric hammock, moist upland bluffs adjacent to rivers. |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant, edge, understory shrub. Can be grown in a large container. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Part Shade, Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Clay, Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
Provides good wildlife cover.
Attracts beetles.