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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Needle palm)
Cressler, Alan

Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Pursh) H. Wendl. & Drude ex Drude

Needle Palm, Blue Palmetto

Arecaceae (Palm Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: rhhy

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Needle Palm is an armed shrub, rarely more than 6 ft. tall, with erect or spreading stems from a short trunk. The leaf sheaths have long, needle-like, stiff and sharp spines. The fruit, a red drupe, is preceded by a short, dense inflorescence.

 

From the Image Gallery

15 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , MS , SC
Native Distribution: C. GA, s. to c. FL, AL & MS
Native Habitat: Swamps; wet to mesic woods & hammocks; dry rocks

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Description: Various wet to dry soils.
Conditions Comments: Needle palm is slow growing and adaptable. It can be used as a ground cover or ornamental specimen, and has proven tolerant of parking lot conditions.

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACW FACW
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Georgia Native Plant Society - Atlanta, GA
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 78 - Missouriplants.com (2020) Missouri Native Plant Society
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Rhapidophyllum hystrix in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Rhapidophyllum hystrix in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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