Attalea crassispatha
 
Common Names Carossier Palm, Petit Coco, Kowos, Haitian Oil Palm
 
Zones 10A–12
 
A critically endangered palm endemic to the southern peninsula of Haiti, Attalea crassispatha is one of the rarest palms in the Americas. It features a massive trunk, dense crown of feather-like leaves, and thick, woody inflorescences. Once widespread, it now survives in only a few fragmented populations due to habitat loss and agricultural encroachment. Its seeds yield oil and its trunk is valued for construction, making it both ecologically and culturally significant2.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Solitary; slow-growing; monocarpic
Height: Up to 66 ft (20 m) in habitat
Trunk: Columnar or slightly swollen; up to 14 in diameter; smooth gray
Leaves: Pinnate, arching fronds up to 13 ft long; 127–165 pairs of leaflets; leaf sheath and petiole combined ~4.5 ft long
Petiole: Unarmed; leaf sheath detaches cleanly when shed
Inflorescence: Thick, woody, furrowed bracts; male or mixed flowers; borne among leaves
Fruit: Egg-shaped, reddish when ripe; ~1.2 in long; contains a single seed with oil-rich endosperm
Ecology: Endemic to Haiti; restricted to limestone slopes and disturbed areas from sea level to 450 m elevation3
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun
Watering: Regular; prefers well-drained soil
Soil: Limestone-based, rocky loam
Temperature: Ideal range 70–90°F (21–32°C); frost-sensitive
Humidity: High
Propagation: By seed; slow germination over several months
Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; sensitive to frost and mechanical damage
 
Landscape Use Best suited for conservation gardens, tropical estates, and botanical collections. Pairs well with Sabal domingensis, Bursera simaruba, and Tabebuia bahamensis.