Rhapidophyllum hystrix
 
Common Names Needle Palm, Porcupine Palm
 
Zones 6b–10
 
One of the hardiest palms in cultivation, Rhapidophyllum hystrix is a shrubby, clumping fan palm native to the moist woodlands and limestone floodplains of the southeastern United States. Nearly trunkless and armed with formidable black spines, it forms dense, impenetrable thickets that provide excellent wildlife cover. This palm is prized for its cold tolerance, surviving short dips to –5°F (–20°C) when mature, and is ideal for temperate collectors seeking a true palm in USDA Zone 6.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Clumping; suckering; slow-growing
Height: 3–6 ft (0.9–1.8 m); spread to 8 ft (2.4 m)
Trunk: Nearly absent; short, thick base covered in black spines up to 10 in (25 cm)
Leaves: Costapalmate; glossy green; 5–12 stiff segments per leaf; up to 30 in (76 cm) across
Petiole: Up to 30 in (76 cm); upright; spiny at base
Inflorescence: Hidden among leaf sheaths; yellow-brown, 3-petaled flowers in dense clusters
Fruit: Reddish-brown drupe; ~0.8 in (2 cm); fuzzy and fetid when ripe
Ecology: Native to South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi; found in swampy limestone ravines and stream bottoms2
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Part shade to full sun
Watering: Medium; prefers moist, well-drained soil
Soil: Rich loam or limestone-based; tolerates wet feet
Temperature: Hardy to –5°F (–20°C) when mature; best with hot summers
Humidity: Moderate to high
Propagation: By seed (6–12 months to germinate); suckers difficult to divide
Tolerance: Cold, wet soils, and deer-resistant; spines deter wildlife and handling
 
Landscape Use Ideal for temperate woodland gardens, shaded borders, and collectors in cold zones. Pairs well with Trachycarpus fortunei, Sabal minor, and Chamaedorea radicalis.