Needle Palm

The needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is a slow-growing evergreen palm native to the southeastern United States. It forms a clump of fan-shaped leaves above a stout, often hidden base ringed with long sharp spines. Its compact outline and cold tolerance make it a useful palm for sheltered woodland edges, shady foundations, and as a distinctive specimen. North Carolina State Extension gives a mature range of about 3–6 feet tall and 4–8 feet wide, while UF/IFAS describes established clumps reaching roughly 8 feet in both directions. The dark green leaves persist year-round; small yellowish-brown flowers are mostly concealed among their bases, followed by reddish-brown fruit. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rhapidophyllum-hystrix/) and [UF/IFAS](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/palms-and-cycads/needle-palm/) describe its cold-hardiness, clumping habit, and tolerance of moist soil and established drought. ## Maintenance Plant in moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, with partial shade preferred in hot sites. Water regularly while the palm establishes; mature plants tolerate dry periods. Leave room around the sharp spines, avoid planting beside narrow paths, and remove damaged leaves carefully.