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Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Hardy Needle Palm

$30.00 $39.00
This size 30 in stock Product ID: 940914

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CULTURAL CONDITIONS

Plant Min Zone: 5b

Plant Max Zone: 10b

Sunlight: Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Water / Rainfall: Average, High, Very High

Soil Quality: Average, Rich

FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE

Bloom Season: Insignificant

Flower Color: Insignificant

Berry / Fruit Color: Brown-Beige

Spring Foliage Color: Dark Green

Summer Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fall Foliage Color: Dark Green

Evergreen Foliage: Yes

Winter Interest: Yes

Scented Flowers: No

PLANT TOLERANCES

Drought Tolerance: Medium

Wet-Feet Tolerance: High

Humidity Tolerance: High

Wind Tolerance: Low

Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils

GROWTH AND MAINTENANCE

Height: 2' - 4'

Width: 2' - 4'

Growth Rate: Slow, Extremely Slow

Service Life: Extremely long: over 20 years

Maintenance Need: Almost Zero Maintenance

Spreading Potential: Extremely Low

Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Evergreen Shrub Yearly in Spring or Summer to Desired Size: Not Grown for Flowers or Fruit.

PLANT USES AND LIMITATIONS

Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5

Best Side of House: South Exposure, West Exposure, East Exposure

Extreme Planting Locations: Tolerates Extreme Heat, Resistant to Rabbits, Base of Retaining Wall Locations

Ornamental Features: Bright Winter Color, Multiple Seasons of Interest, Large Tropical Foliage / Flowers, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage

Special Landscape Uses: None

Possible Pest Problems: Stem/Crown Disease, Scales

Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Has Thorns, Slow to Reach Mature Size

Description

Needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is a very special plant in that it is the world's most cold-hardy palm. Needle palm is native to the lower Southeast US with its original native range probably pushed south during the last Ice Age. This would explain its -20°F cold hardiness rating. Bright green foliage is shiny and fan-like; typical of any fan palm. When grown in a northern climate such as Kansas, growth is pretty slow at first and some winter damage should be expected if temperatures drop below -5 degrees F. It is advisable to mulch the crown of a newly planted Needle Palm with 6 to 8 inches of mulch for the first few years. Established plants get about 3 to 4 feet tall after 10-20 years. Needle Palms tolerate excessive moisture and rain gardens but prefer rich well-drained soil. Needle palm grow in full sun to full shade (much slower growth).They are also notably drought tolerant if grown in full sun but not in dry shade. They do need a hot and humid (Kansas) summer to build up stored energy for the next winter. There have been problems in the Eastern United States with crown-rot from winter moisture but generally in Kansas with pretty dry winters, this has not been a problem. Useful in the landscape as a tropical looking evergreen specimen plant. Unlike other Evergreens, needle palm maintains bright green foliage, not dingy olive green like many conifers. Combine with just about any other flowering plants and most garden themes. This true palm, however, is a must for any tropical theme garden. Mix with hardy banana (Musa basjoo), canna, or crinum lily! Rhapidophyllum hystrix has been planted in our trial gardens and at several residential gardens in Lawrence, KS (zone 6a) 10-15 years ago. During the arctic blast of February, 2021, lows down to -17 degrees F on Feb 16th, 2021 were recorded. The longevity of this cold blast was also impressive: 10 days on a row with highs of 10-15 degrees F or lower, 8 nights of lows in the single digits and negatives, and 36 straight hours of 0 degrees F and mostly lower. Minimal foliage damage resulted on established plants, more damage occured on small plants but they recovered by mid-summer.

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