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Of the 2700 or so species of recognized palms present in
the world today, only a mere twelve occur naturally in
Florida. If one considers extending the range to the
whole of the United States, the number of American
natives rises to a hefty fourteen. Among the Florida
natives, a few range in the central region of the state
and extend to the northern climes and are hence
inherently suited for our growing conditions. However, a
few hail from the southern locales and have had
surprising success when grown in our gardens. It is the
intent of the following article to list the Florida
natives and to relay information on the natural range of
these palms as well as the suitability for growing in
the central Florida region. Information will be included
regarding cold hardiness (a very subjective phenomenon),
preferred growing conditions, and relative availability.
The information is provided from personal experience as
well as book sources listed at the end of the article.
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1. Acoelorraphe wrightii, also known as the
"Everglades Palm" or "Paurotis",
naturally occurs in southern Florida, but is also
prevalent in the Caribbean and Central America. This is
a monotypic species (only one species in the genus), and
is characterized by being a clumping palm having small
to medium sized palmate leaves atop numerous narrow
trunks. An abundant palm in cultivation, it is often
seen decorating large commercial buildings in our area.
Especially attractive specimens are neatly trimmed to
showcase the attractive trunks, often of varying
heights. Many tests over the years has proven this palm
to be cold-hardy for our area, undamaged at temperatures
reaching the low 20's F. Although Paurotis palms prefer
growing in areas where adequate water is available, it
is adaptable to many growing conditions including shade
to full sun and well-drained to swampy soil. Over time,
this palm can spread to become a large specimen, but its
relatively slow growth rate allows it to suit a private
garden for a considerable time. Being a natural coastal
dweller, this palm is also suited for areas prone to
higher salt concentrations in the ground water, as well
as light salt laden winds. Though native to the southern
part of the state, this species has surprising
suitability to our growing conditions and is a highly
recommended palm for all areas of the central Florida
region. It is also a palm that is easy to find, being
common in many nurseries and garden centers.
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2. Coccothrinax argentata, also known as the
"Florida Silver Palm" or "Florida Thatch
Palm" is native to southern Florida and the Florida
Keys, as well as many Caribbean isles and Central
America. Though many species of Coccothrinax exist, this
is the only species native to Florida. It is
characterized by being a small single-trunked palm with
dark green upper leaf surfaces that are silvery
underneath. A very attractive palm whose only limit in
the garden is the relatively slow growth rate. There are
several individuals of this species that have withstood
the tests of time (i.e. central Florida freezes), though
many were killed by damaging cold. At the gardens of
Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne and the
private residence of Dent Smith in Daytona, there exist
survivors, albeit with lingering tell-tale signs of cold
damage from freezes. Generally a coastal species,
Coccothrinax argentata requires a sunny location and
well drained soils. Most of its native range occurs on
limestone derived soils, however it has shown to be
adaptable to many types of soil conditions in central
Florida. It is a relatively care-free palm that is
easily accommodated in any garden. However, it is
recommended for the warmer parts of central Florida,
though its small size lends itself to protection for the
areas prone to colder spells. It is generally a species
that is not readily available in nurseries, and usually
only available from vendors that provide a specialty in
palms.
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3. Pseudophoenix sargentii, also known as the Buccaneer
or Sargent's Cherry Palm is native to the Florida Keys
as well as the Caribbean and Central America. Two
subspecies and three varieties exist, varying in
inflorescence length, leaf coloration, and fruit size.
The one native to Florida is considered the subspecies
sargentii. Buccaneer Palm is characterized as a
medium-sized palm with stiff leaflets that are dark
green above and silver underneath. In habitat, it is
generally found in coastal areas that are somewhat
protected from high winds, on limestone or sandy soils.
Very few individuals remain in (Florida) habitat, which
currently is Elliot Key, south of Biscayne Bay.
Hurricane Andrew in 1992 decimated the small population
there down to just a few trees, however a replanting
program is underway with seed collected from the
original population. This palm is very attractive, and
many CFPACS members will freely admit it is their
favorite native if not their favorite palm. It is a palm
that requires full sun or light shade for optimal
growth. In cultivation, these palms have been shown to
be very adaptable and sturdy, although painfully
slow-growing. Typically, Buccaneer palms will produce
1-2 leaves per year, but as young plants, each new leaf
is significantly larger than the previous one. Because
of this slow growth rate, large specimens are rarely
encountered in central Florida gardens. Another
interesting feature about young Buccaneer Palms is their
juvenile growth habit. Leaves are produced in a single
plane (distichous) until after the palm forms a trunk,
at which time leaves will begin to emerge radially from
the bud. Pseudophoenix has been reported to be somewhat
sensitive to cold, and coupled with the slow growth rate
make it a challenging species for the colder areas of
central Florida. It has been especially challenging for
CFPACS member Mike Dahme to grow this palm near his
driveway (you'll have to ask him why). Formerly hard to
find, they are becoming increasingly more common to
obtain at palm sales. Although Pseudophoenix still
commands a high dollar value, it is certainly worth
obtaining and trying for much of our area.
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4. Rhapidophyllum hystrix, or Needle Palm is native to
the southeast United States and the southernmost range
is the inland areas of central Florida. It is generally
considered an understory palm, rarely attaining much
height above 2 meters. It is characterized by having
deeply divided palmate leaves that are dark, glossy
green on top and silver underneath. The common name
arises from the numerous spiny projections arising from
the trunk that are actually derived from the leaf
sheaths. Plants are commonly suckering, and form an
attractive clump of leaves. Although typically occurring
in moist, shady conditions, needle palms can be grown in
full sun, provided they are supplied adequate water.
This slow-growing, but very cold-hardy palm is suited
for all of the central Florida area where the growing
conditions are similar to their natural habitat. Needle
palms have been grown much farther north than their
natural range, with several large clumps present in the
National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. This palm is
commonly encountered in many CFPACS gardens and is
usually available in nurseries that specialize in palms
or native plants. It is an excellent candidate for the
garden because of its habit: It fits well underneath and
between arborescent palms and other trees.
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5. Roystonea elata, or Florida Royal Palm (currently
considered synonymous with the Cuban Royal Palm;
Roystonea regia) is native to southern Florida, the
Caribbean, and Central America. It is characterized by
large, glossy green pinnate leaves atop a tall gray
trunk that terminates in a bright green crownshaft.
Although not very common in habitat (hammocks in the
Everglades), it is very commonly encountered in gardens
and public plantings, mainly in southern Florida. The
Royal Palm is considered one of the most beautiful
palms, perfect for landscaping because of its fast
growth rate, stately size, uniform habit, and
adaptability. In the garden, it requires plenty of room
and full sun. Unfortunately, this palm is uncommon in
much of central Florida because the numerous individuals
planted over the years have succumbed to the periodic
freezes we encounter. However, several large individuals
still persist in our area, having survived (albeit with
significant freeze-related trunk damage) even the 1989
freeze. It is commonly available in nurseries that
specialize in palms, and occasionally in larger
nurseries and garden centers.
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6. Sabal etonia, or Scrub Palmetto, occurs only in
central and southeastern Florida growing mainly along
the area known as the central Florida ridge. The native
habitat generally consists of sandy soils in relatively
open oak and pine scrub communities. It is characterized
as a trunkless (or very short trunked) palm with
strongly costapalmate, yellowish-green leaves.
Distinguishing features of this palm over the other
native Sabals is the numerous threads that are present
on the leaves where the leaflet divisions exist and the
erect, bushy inflorescence that is shorter than the
leaves. Although commonly found in its native habitat
(currently wildlife refuges), it is generally uncommon
in many gardens, probably because of its ubiquitous
presence in central Florida. In gardens, this palm is
very adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions,
and is obviously well-suited for the central Florida
garden. It is very uncommon to find this palm except for
the occasional nursery that specializes in palms or at
palm society sales.
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7. Sabal miamiensis or Miami palmetto's habitat is
southeastern Florida, and as one might expect in the
vicinity of Miami. It currently is considered extinct or
close to extinct in habitat due to urbanization of this
region of the state. It has similar characteristics to
Sabal etonia, and the distinguishing feature being the
inflorescence that is as long as or taller than the
leaves and branched to three orders (compared to a
shorter, bushy inflorescence in S. etonia). This species
appears to be very uncommon not only in habitat, but
also central Florida gardens. It is assumed that the
growing requirements for S. miamiensis would be very
similar to that of S. etonia. It is also likely that
finding a plant or seeds of this palm would be through
on of the palm societies.
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8. Sabal minor, also known as Dwarf Palmetto, is native
to the southeastern United States from southern Oklahoma
and Texas in the west to North Carolina in the east. In
habitat, it is commonly found in wetter areas such as
floodplains and swamps as generally an understory palm.
It is similar to S. etonia in that it is a trunkless
palm (sometimes a short trunk), but it differs in that
it has a long, arching inflorescence (longer than the
leaves), and the leaves are weakly costapalmate. Because
it is generally an understory palm, it can endure much
shadier conditions than S. etonia, and the dark
greenish-blue leaves add for an interesting look in the
shadier parts of the garden. Like the smaller Florida
natives, S. minor fills a necessary niche in central
Florida gardens because it fits well underneath and in
between other larger palms. It is very cold hardy and as
such is represented in many central Florida gardens.
Although very common in habitat, it is generally not
available except in nurseries that specialize in palms.
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9. Sabal palmetto or Cabbage Palm occurs naturally in
the southeastern United States, and is very common in
all of central Florida. It is extremely adaptable to
many growing conditions, however if grown in shade it
may not form a trunk until significant light is allowed
through the canopy. Sabal palmetto is the state
"tree" for both Florida and South Carolina
(and is even depicted on the S. Carolina state auto
tag). A very tough and sturdy palm, it is often removed
from habitat for landscaping projects and is commonly
seen in housing developments or as municipal plantings.
It is characterized as a small to medium sized tree palm
with strongly costapalmate leaves. Leaf bases tend to
remain attached in younger, trunked specimens, while
older palms are devoid of the "boots". Young
plants can be mistaken for other trunkless Sabal species
(S. etonia and S. minor) native to Florida, however S.
palmetto generally won't flower until some trunk
development has occurred. Unfortunately, this common
palm is often mistreated by pruning to within inches of
their lives, a practice that is not only harmful to the
palm's overall health, but equally unsightly to the palm
lover in all of us. Because of the relative abundance of
this palm, and to a lesser extent, its slow growth, it
is not commonly encountered in nurseries or at palm
society functions. Many people have this palm as a
consequence of "volunteering" of seedlings
resulting from bird droppings.
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10. Serenoa repens or Saw Palmetto is native to the
southeastern United States and is sometimes mistaken for
young Sabal spp. The distinguishing features of this
palm are fine teeth along the margin of the leaf
petioles, non-costapalmate leaf, and the characteristic
clumping nature of the palm. This palm is generally not
considered a large palm, because of its reclining
trunks, but some individual stems can attain some
considerable height. This cold hardy native occurs in a
wide range of conditions, but is mainly encountered in
sandy, exposed areas. The fruits of this species are
quite large compared to all other Florida natives (about
an inch in length) and the fruits are used in a number
of kidney and prostate medicines. Like Sabal palmetto,
Serenoa repens is widely common in all of central
Florida, and is often treated as a weed. Two forms of
this palm are recognized based on leaf color, one being
the green and the other being the more sought-after
silver form. This palm is sometimes found in nurseries
that specialize in palms and occasionally at palm
society meetings.
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11. Thrinax morrisii or Keys Thatch Palm is native to
the lower Florida Keys and many other Caribbean islands.
It is characterized as a small to medium sized palm that
has palmate leaves that are shiny, light green above and
silver underneath. Similar to Coccothrinax argentata in
description and habitat, T. morrisii can be
distinguished by having split leaf bases and small,
white fruit (Coccothrinax has dark purple fruit and
non-split leaf bases). Intergeneric hybrids have been
reported between T. morrisii and C. argentata which have
intermediate morphology to the suspected parents. T.
morrisii is well suited for exposed garden situations
and is very salt tolerant. Adding to its carefree
lifestyle, T. morrisii has been successfully grown in
many central Florida gardens, testing the cold hardiness
and adaptability of this species. Up until recently,
there have been a number of large specimens of this
species at the campus of Florida Institute of Technology
in Melbourne. Unfortunately, some of them have been
removed for unknown reasons. The unexpected success of
this palm for central Florida encourages further trials
to explore the northern limits of this species. This
palm is generally available in nurseries that specialize
in palms as well as palm society sales.
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12. Thrinax radiata or Florida Thatch Palm occurs in the
upper Florida Keys and many Caribbean locales. It is
characterized as having palmate leaves that are bright
green on both sides. Like its cousin, T. morrisii,
Florida Thatch Palm has distinctive split leaf bases and
small, white fruit. Unfortunately, unlike its cousin, it
is not as hardy to cold, but it is quite carefree and
adaptable to many growing conditions, including
considerable salt exposure. Because it is not a large
palm, it could be tried in areas of protection in some
of the colder locations in central Florida. It is
relatively common to encounter this species in gardens
to our south, and many central Floridians are attempting
to grow it. It is generally available at reasonable cost
in nurseries that specialize in palms and palm society
sales.
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Although all palms native to Florida are generally
available either at nurseries that specialize in palms,
or through the palm society sales and seedbank, many
central Florida gardens seem to overlook these wonderful
palms for their gardens. Perhaps it is due to the
ubiquitous nature of some of these palms that leads some
to consider them contemptuous. In some cases, people
have tried and failed with some natives due to pushing
the range of cold hardiness, soil suitability, or light
requirements. It is hoped that more people will seek out
and attempt to grow these palms in their gardens because
they can add unique ornamental features not easily
gained with other exotic species.
Information Sources:
Jones, D.L. 1995. Palms throughout the world.
Smithsonian Institution Press, USA
Henderson, A., G. Galeano, and R. Bernal. 1995. Field
guide to the palms of the Americas. Princeton University
Press, Princeton NJ.
Meerow, A.W. 1992. Betrock's guide to landscape palms.
Betrock Information Systems, Inc. Cooper City, FL
reprinted from The Palmateer, March, 2000
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