Needle Palm Trees
There are 2 special varieties of needle palm trees that can tolerate more than just below freezing temperatures but also quite used to snow.
They are each pretty in their own ways- one with beautiful blue leaves and the other a deep green.
They are both named this for a good reason!
Green Needle Palm Tree
Blue Needle Palm Tree CC Origunal Photo by:Benjamin Grassineau
From North America
The green variety originates in wetter regions of south eastern United States.
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina are just a couple.
The spines are usually underneath and attached to the base of the leaf stems.
They are sometimes called the vegetable porcupine because of the sharp spines that can be over 6 inches long.
Ouch!
They have beautiful darker green deeply segmented fan shape leaves with a silver tone on their underside.
This needle palm gets a brown mass of fibers attached to the trunk that sometimes makes the sharp spines hard to see.
It does flower and produce a fruit that looks on the brownish side when it’s ripe and are covered in what looks like short white hairs.
Needle Palm TreeCC Photo taken by Raulbot in Washington DC
These guys are quite cold tolerant and really don’t get very tall-anywhere from 6-12 feet tall at most.
Because they love moist areas they are best planted as an accent to larger shade producing trees, and may need to be fertilized a little more often.
Keep in mind with the long sharp spines; don’t plant near walkways or other foot traffic spots.
Quick info: Scientific name Rhapidophyllum hystrix
- 8-12 ft wide, 5-8 ft wide, multi trunk
- Minimum temp 20°F zone 7-11
- Part sun to part shade, slow growing
- Any soil with organic matter to hold moisture
South America Needle Palm
Blue Needle Palm TreeThe Blue Needle Palm originates in South America. Countries like Argentina and Uruguay are home to this fan palm.
It
currently is not placed in the same branch of the family as the green variety.
The two are slightly similar.
The blue needle also has brown fibers covering its trunk, and sharp spines embedded in the fibers.
Their leaves are very rigid making them also sharp enough to cut thru skin, like little knives.
They do get yellow flower spikes and fruit that starts off white then turns to near brown when ripe.
The blue variety does better in full sun though, and gets a bit bigger in height and width.
They have very pretty deeply divided fan leaves that will range in color from silver to a silvery green or blue to a greenish blue. It all depends on the plant.
The biggest difference is this one originates in semi arid, a lot drier climates. It also can tolerate colder temps to 13°F.
These 2 special cold hardy needle palm trees can really help
to bring that little slice of paradise to much cooler climates.
Just don’t forget that both can be dangerous to passersby so make sure to place where they can be seen to be appreciated and not felt.
Quick info: scientific name Trithrinax campestris
- 20 plus ft tall and 10 ft wide, in natural habitat, clumping variety
- Minimum temp 13°F zone 7-11
- Full sun, any well drained that is neither too high nor low on the pH scale
- Drought tolerant, slow to very slow grower.
Blue Needle Palms in ArgentinaCC Original Photo by: Abestrobi
I'm Darla the creator of Palm Tree Passion.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit.
Darla
Recent Articles
-
Hearts of Palm Salad
This recipe sounds very yummy and looks great too. A salad to enjoy year round. Plus a few key questions on where hearts of palms come from and who harvests them.
-
Palm Tree Tattoo Ideas
Lots of palm tree tattoo ideas. If you are looking at adding a tropical looking tattoo you definitely can't have it without including at least one palm tree.
-
A Vacation in a Box -Palm Trees included
Ikea wants to let you have the feel of a vacation destination right from your own home. They've come up with a box filled with home decor, accessories (including faux palm trees) and even recipes from…
- Home ›
- Landscaping ›
- Needle Palm
A NOTE on Buying Palm Tress: If you are looking to buy palm trees of any kind then I would highly recommend purchasing through the Real Palm Tree Store.
They are a huge nursery based in Florida with connections to many quality growers.
Whether you are ordering from inside the United States, Canada or another part of the world-- ordering one tree for your landscape or many for a commercial project-- I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.
Their customer service is second to none; all products are high quality and backed by a money back 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Make sure to visit
real palm trees, ask questions and read the reviews before buying anywhere
else.
Palm Tree Passion is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Palm Tree Passion (amazon.com).