Rhapidophyllum

( rap - ih - doe - FILL - um )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Needle Palm, this species does well in sun or shade and takes moderate to ample water. They grow in dense, suckering clumps that slowly spread. These are hardy palms, able to take temperatures down to below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. These palms typically reach between 6 and 8 feet tall and just as wide and produce dark green foliage. The common name refers to the black spines present towards the base of each leafstalk and on seeds. Rhapidophullum hystrix is the sole species in its genus, which is a member of the plant family Arecaceae. Needle Palms grow well in zones 4-24 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map). Take care when planting these palms in the garden, as their sharp spines can be physically dangerous to people and pets.

Caring for and pruning rhapidophyllum Trees

Needle Palms can tolerate a wide range of soils.

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

Check out the variety of cultivars available in this species.

Resources

Wikipedia: Rhapidophyllum
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 555, Rhapidophyllum hystrix
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