Rhapidophyllum hystrix Medicinal Plants drought-loving perennial/sub-shrub from the Transcaucasia

drought-loving perennial/sub-shrub from the Transcaucasia (Italy west to Georgia)

imported to the US by plantsman John Elsley in the 1970s

Its only bad habit is being stoloniferous

so don't bother planting this in the Deep South unless you enjoy it for the foliage

Rhapidophyllum hystrix Medicinal Plants drought-loving perennial/sub-shrub from the TranscaucasiaThe hardiest of palms, Rhapidophyllum hystrix is a slow growing Southeast US (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina) native that has withstood 9 degrees F here with NO damage (without protection or special siting). We expect established needle palm specimens should handle 20 degrees F. This short trunked, 8' tall x 12' wide, clump forming, hardy palm has typical cut leaf, green palm foliage and sharp "needles" at the base to protect the seeds