Trithrinax brasiliensis

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: try-THRIN-ax bruh-ZILL-ee-en-siss


Common Name: Brazilian Needle Palm

Trithrinax brasiliensis is a very hardy fan palm for most areas of California that do not experience deep freezes for an extended period of time. Though initially somewhat superficially similar to Trachycarpus fortunei, it differs by having stiffer, large fan leaves and a spectacularly spiny trunk. Still, some commercial and public landscaping, particularly in southern California, will include one of these alongside several Trachycarpus, obviously with the planter assuming it was the same palm. The name Trithrinax acanthocoma has gone in and out of synonymy multiple times. Currently it has gone back to a true species, but since differences between this species and that one are very subtle, no separation has been made in this compilation (yet).

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 20-25 fan leaves
  • Height: 20'
  • Trunk: single (rarely multiple); 12" thick; covered with thick, woody, sharp downward-pointed spines about 3"-4" long; spines arise off a dense, woody weave of fiber-like material surrounding the entire trunk; retained leaf bases also persist on trunk for most of its height; also a great deal of softer fibrous material surrounding leaf bases as well; trunks can be cleaned to remove both leaf bases and spines, and some aged palms will naturally do so near the bases
  • Crownshaft: none
  • Spread: 10'
  • Leaf Description: palmate; semicircular; with stiff, evenly spaced leaflets with show only minimal drooping at the tips (if at all); 4'-5' long; medium green, though sometimes with a glaucous surface to them
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 18"-24"; slightly arching; narrow; light green to yellow-green; unarmed
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: from within crown; arching downward 2'-3 long; branched; white flowers
  • Fruit: spherical; 1" diameter; bright green turning pale yellow or yellow-green when ripe; brown when really ripe
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 15F
  • Drought Tolerance: good, once established
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: good
  • Cool Tolerance: excellent
  • Wind Tolerance: good
  • Salt Tolerance: low
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: very widely adaptable
  • Light Requirement: partial to full sun
  • Human Hazards: very thick and sharp woody spines along trunk to the very top of the palm
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: sometimes gets a leaning palm syndrome
  • Transplants?: reportedly fairly tolerant of moving
  • Indoor?: unlikely to do well
  • Availability: moderately rare, occasionally showing up at non-specialty nurseries; fresh seed readily available about California as mature palms are profuse seed producers


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