Hispaniola Silver Thatch Palm

Coccothrinax argentata is a small, slow-growing fan palm with dark blue-green leaves that show a silvery underside. The current nursery label calls it the “Hispaniola Silver Thatch Palm,” while botanical references distinguish this species from the Hispaniolan C. argentea; Kew places C. argentata from southern Florida and the Bahamas through the Turks and Caicos, southeastern Mexico, and Colombia. [Kew Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:62341-2/general-information) ## Form and seasonal interest UF/IFAS describes the palm as typically 6–10 feet tall, with an overall height range of 6–15 feet and a spread of 6–7 feet. Its palmate leaves are dark blue-green above and silver below. Small white flowers appear among the leaves in summer, followed by purple fruit in late summer and fall. The published mature-size ranges are shown here without selecting a single numeric point. [UF/IFAS Silverpalm profile](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST176) ## Placement UF/IFAS lists full sun through partial shade, multiple soil textures including sand, and use on patios, as a specimen, in containers, or in medians. It gives USDA hardiness zones 10B–11. The silver underside and upright crown make the foliage the main landscape feature. ## Maintenance UF/IFAS reports high drought tolerance, high aerosol-salt tolerance, and little pruning requirement. Allow enough room for its mature crown and remove only foliage that is dead or damaged.