Caranday Palm

Caranday palm (*Copernicia alba*) is a fan-leaved tree native from west-central Brazil to northeastern Argentina, in a seasonally dry tropical biome. UF/IFAS describes a single-stem palm with spiny petioles and gives regional landscape estimates of 30–35 ft tall by 10–12 ft wide; allow generous clearance and treat those figures as local estimates rather than fixed limits. [Kew](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:64958-2) · [UF/IFAS Central Florida](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP020) · [UF/IFAS South Florida](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP009) ## Identification and siting The foliage is light green and fan-shaped, with spines along the petioles. UF/IFAS rates salt-spray tolerance as moderate and lists USDA zone 9b in its Central Florida palm table; its South Florida table presents a different mature-size estimate, reflecting regional landscape references. Site it where the mature crown can develop without crowding structures or pedestrian routes. The Central Florida listing identifies a single stem, making this a tall architectural palm rather than a clumping screen. ## Landscape use Use it as a specimen where a single-trunk fan palm can be viewed at a distance and where sharp petiole spines are away from regular contact. The native seasonally dry tropical setting is useful context, but local rainfall, soil drainage, and cold exposure still determine performance. Verify local suitability before planting outside warm subtropical or tropical settings. ## Maintenance Keep clearance around the spiny petioles and plan for the palm’s mature crown. Use the cited zone and size values as regional guidance, not guarantees for every site.