Needle Palm is a dense, near-trunkless native evergreen palm treated as a shrub. Its narrow and stiff green foliage is deeply divided and arranged like a fan. The inconspicuous summer flowers are usually by the foliage and are followed by fruits that ripen in fall. Grows best with full sun in rich and moist well-drained soils. Drought tolerant once established. Warning: There are sharp 6in black needle-like spines at the base of the plant.
Syn. with Chamaerops hystrix, Rhapis caroliniana, and Sabai hystrix
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Type: |
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Origins: |
Southeast N. America; GA Native |
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Height: |
3’ - 6’ |
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Spread: |
4’ - 8’ |
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Spacing: |
6’ |
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USDA Hardiness Zone: |
6 - 10 |
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Culture: |
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Bloom Color: |
N/A |
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Season of Interest: |
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance. No serious pests or diseases.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Sago Palm, Agapanthus, Fothergilla
IMAGES: KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS, Rhapidophyllum hystrix at Mounts Botanical Garden 03, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Photo by David J. Stang, Rhapidophyllum hystrix 20zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Famartin, 2022-09-16 07 38 32 A recently-planted Needle Palm along Aquetong Lane in the Mountainview section of Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, CC BY-SA 4.0
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.
