SCIENTIFIC NAME: Licuala spinosa

COMMON NAME(S): Spiny licuala
SUB FAMILY: Coryphoideae
TRIBE: Corypheae
ORIGIN: Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia
HARDINESS ZONES: 10B-11 (damaged but recovered at 24 degrees F)
TYPICAL MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 12'
GROWTH RATE: Slow
HABIT: Clumping; each stem with about 10 leaves
SALT TOLERANCE: Low
DROUGHT TOLERANCE: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Widely adaptable
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Moderate
NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS: Moderate
POPULAR USES: Shrub
HUMAN HAZARDS: Spiny
POPULAR OR RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS: None

COMMENTS: Despite the ferocious armament along the leaf stems and its slow rate of growth, spiny licuala is prized for its attractively-segmented, circular leaves. It is one of the more sun-tolerant species in the genus, but leaves maintain their best appearance with some shade. Its water demands are directly proportional to the amount of sunlight the palm receives. Spiny licuala also appears to be slightly hardier than L. grandis. Similar species: L. rumphii (Eastern Indonesia) is a tightly clumping species slightly smaller than spiny licuala. The leaves form about 3/4 of a circle and are divided to the stem into several broad segments. L. gracilis (Java) is a dwarf clumper that rarely exceeds 5' in height.