Florida Thatch Palms are a versatile option for a small palm tree. They will grow in sun or shade, are drought and salt tolerant,
and have a slender trunk. Florida Thatch Palms are native to Florida and are slow growing.
How to care for Florida Thatch Palm
Light. Grows in full sun to light shade.
Water. It prefers moist soil but handles short droughts once established.
Soil and feeding. Plant it in moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soil with some organic matter on top.
Size. Grows slowly to about 15 ft. Typical plants are 10–20 ft, and very old ones can reach 28 ft. The fan leaves are 2–3 ft across.
Good to know. A Florida native, listed as endangered by the state. It tolerates salty wind and salt spray well, but not flooding by salt water. It is a larval host for the monk skipper butterfly, bees visit the flowers, and birds use it for food and nesting.
Sources: Natives for Your Neighborhood (Institute for Regional Conservation): Thrinax radiata · Florida Native Plant Society Plant Database: Thrinax radiata
