2001 Unusual Palms & Cycads in Central Florida

Unusual Palms & Cycads in Central Florida

Location: CFPACS

Date Submitted: Spring 2001

On this page we feature some palms that are not normally found in local nurseries. Every palm or cycad shown can be cultivated in our region. If you are inland or in the northern counties, some of these might not work for you. All of these are not necessarily as hardy or easy to care for as a Date, Washington, Pindo or King Sago but can be grown successfully, especially near the coast. Borassus aethiopium, Satellite Beach, planted 1994 insitu !!!

Bismarckia nobilis in Orlando (Dave Witt's) with a spread of 20', about 10 years from seed.

Possibly the largest (note the small stem) Copernicia macroglossa in Brevard (headgear optional)

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, the Spindle palm growing (and flowering for the 1st time) in Satellite Beach at Charlene Palm's.

Cocos nucifera, the Coconut Palm. This is the "dwarf golden malayan" variety named due to the color of the nuts and the fact that it fruits when quite small. This specimen was sprouted in 1993, growing in Sarasota.

Acrocomia 'totai' about 15' overall and approximately 8 years from seed and flowering for the 1st time, Orlando.

Copernicia alba growing in Satellite Beach. Our chapter has been distributing seed from this palm for several years now.

A Triangle Palm (Dypsis decaryi growing near downtown Tampa.

Our chapter's fund raising Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcata), planted in 1992 at no more than 5-gal. size in Vero Beach. It has grown into a lush, bottle-shaped tree with a 15-foot trunk and about 20 feet of height overall.

Taken in summer 2000 the chapter-funding fruits of Arenga pinnata growing in Cocoa Beach; our chapter's coffers will certainly miss this palm but plenty of it's offspring have already sprouted and made their way around Central Florida.

Bowenia serrulata, a dainty understory cycad native to the Queensland area of Australia. This specimen is growing in Tampa.

Zombia antillarum, native to Hispaniola, growing in Cocoa Beach.

The very uncommon cycad, Ceratozamia miqueliana. This Mexican native is growing in Tampa.

Actinorhytis calapparia, now just beginning to flower at the end of year 2000. This specimen growing in Cocoa Beach.

South Africa native Encephalartos lehmannii growing in Tampa.

Corypha utan growing just off I-95 in Melbourne. Note the spiral arrangement of leaf bases at the bottom of the stem.

Dypsis lastelliana (or is it leptocheilos? ). From this pic we can't be sure but there are ways to tell. This Madagascar native is growing in southern Brevard County.