Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Rhapidophyllum hystrix
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Scientific Classification
Genus: Rhapidophyllum Species: hystrix
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: clumped Leaf type: palmate Height: 1-1.2 m
Culture
Sun exposure: part to full sun
Survivability index
Common names
Needle Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Native to southeastern United States, from central Florida to Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Alabama.

Description

A palmate palm with a short, dense clustered base eventually to 1-1.2 m tall, covered in dense long needle-like spines from the leaf bases.

Old specimens have a rounded crown up to 3 m tall, of dark green palmate leaves 1-2 m long, with 8-16 leaflets, these 60-80 cm long, arranged in an open fan at the end of a 60-120 cm petiole.

The species is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. The fruit is dark brown when ripe, oval, about 2 cm long, with a single seed. They are produced on densely branched panicles.

Cultivation

Rhapidophyllum hystrix is probably the second-hardiest palm known (after Trachycarpus fortunei), tolerating winter temperatures down to about -20°C, but unlike that species, demanding a hot summer continental climate with long periods over 30°C. Winter temperatures below -20°C will cut this palm to the ground, but as it is a suckering palm, it may come back from freezes that kill the foliage. The length of the freeze is important, though, and any prolonged freeze that low will freeze the soil will kill the palm.

In the eastern United States, successful outdoor cultivation has been reported north to New York.

Because of its need for hot summers, cultivation in more northern areas like most of Europe, and the Pacific Northwest of North America, has not been successful even where winters are mild.