SCIENTIFIC NAME: Acoelorrhaphe wrightii

COMMON NAME(S): Paurotis palm; Everglades palm
SUB FAMILY: Coryphoideae
TRIBE: Corypheae
ORIGIN: Florida and Caribbean region
HARDINESS ZONES: 10A-11 (no problem at 22 degrees F), (thought to be hardy to 18 degrees F)
TYPICAL MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 20'
GROWTH RATE: Slow
HABIT: Clustering; each stem bearing 20-30 leaves
SALT TOLERANCE: Moderate
DROUGHT TOLERANCE: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Widely adaptable
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Medium; high
NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS: Moderate
POPULAR USES: Multi-trunked specimen tree
HUMAN HAZARDS: Spiny
POPULAR OR RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS: None

COMMENTS: The paurotis palm is a distinctive part of the Florida Everglades flora where it frequently forms dense stands at the border of tree islands. It is one of the few cultivated palms that will tolerate poorly drained sites in the landscape. It prefers relatively moist soils; on drier soils growth will be particularly slow. On high pH soils, paurotis palms will manifest manganese deficiency ('frizzletop') unless fertilized regularly with manganese sulfate or a complete fertilizer containing manganese. The paurotis palm will, in time, form a large cluster that restricts its use to sites where such spread will not be a problem.