Rhapidophyllum histrix

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: ray-pid-uh-FILL-um HISS-trix


Common Name: Needle Palm; Porcupine Palm

Rhapidophyllum histrix is probably the overall hardiest palm in the world, easily being the most cold hardy, but tolerant of heat and humidity as well. Easy, though slow shrubby palm for most any climate, except possibly high desert, in California. Large suckering palms a bit less ornamental than younger plants, but can be trimmed up to look exceptionally nice

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: suckering stemless to short stemmed with crowns of 6-18 leaves on each stem
  • Height: 4' (trunk height) to 6' (overall height)
  • Trunk: multiple 8"-12" thick; covered with dense laver of fiber, retained leaf bases and upward radiating, long (up to 1') thin, stiff, but not overly stout spines in various directions
  • Crownshaft: none
  • Spread: 6'-10'+
  • Leaf Description: palmate; deep, glossy green above; rough with some white scurf on undersides; leaflets pleated and ending in a jagged tip (premorse); leaflets divided nearly their entire length; 3'-4' long (including petiole)
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 2'-3' long, very thin; nearly triangular in cross section; top smooth and undersides with a whitish scurf; basically unarmed but with minuscule bumps along edges
  • Reproduction: dioecious
  • Inflorescence: short, 6"-12"; densely flowered yellow/purple flowers
  • Fruit: 1" purplish with some fuzz on them
  • Seed:
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: -6F
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
  • Wind Tolerance: moderate (to poor if hot, dry winds)
  • Salt Tolerance: poor
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: extremely adaptable to wide variety of soils
  • Light Requirement: full sun to nearly full shade
  • Human Hazards: long spines at leaf bases, but not super sharp
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none known in California
  • Transplants?: fairly good
  • Indoor?: possibly a decent indoor plant
  • Availability: rare but usually available at specialty palm nurseries


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