Puerto Rican Hat Palm

Puerto Rican hat palm is a solitary fan palm native from southern Hispaniola through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its large green crown and substantial trunk give it a bold tropical presence where there is ample room to grow. ### Form and placement The [University of Florida’s ornamental palm guide](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP020) gives Sabal causiarum a typical mature size of about 50 feet tall by 16 feet wide and lists it for USDA zone 9a. The [National Parks Board of Singapore](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/6/2683) records full sun, moderate water, moderate growth, and solitary habit. [Kew](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:224804-2) recognizes the species as a tree from the Caribbean’s wet tropical region. ### Growing conditions Choose an open sunny site with room above and around the crown. This large palm suits spacious tropical or subtropical landscapes; avoid placing it beneath overhead lines or beside structures that cannot accommodate its mature spread. ## Maintenance Keep the root ball evenly moist while a newly planted palm establishes, then water during prolonged dry periods. Remove only completely dead leaves; partially discolored older fronds can signal nutrient stress and should not be stripped away.