SCIENTIFIC NAME: Copernicia hospita

COMMON NAME(S): Hospita palm
SUB FAMILY: Coryphoideae
TRIBE: Corypheae
ORIGIN: Cuba
HARDINESS ZONES: 10B-11 (no problem at 32 degrees F)
TYPICAL MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 30' (but can reach 50')
GROWTH RATE: Slow
HABIT: Solitary; canopy of 20-30 leaves
SALT TOLERANCE: Moderate
DROUGHT TOLERANCE: High
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Widely adaptable
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: High
NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS: Low
POPULAR USES: Specimen tree
HUMAN HAZARDS: Spiny
POPULAR OR RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS: None

COMMENTS: Hospita palm is one of the striking Cuban Copernicia species. The leaves form an erect crown on mature trees of impressive dimensions and appearance. The segments of the leaf are rigid. The leaves are further marked distinctively by the long, broad leaf stem extension (costa) that penetrates several feet into the leaf blade and an often equally long hastula on the upper surface which juts out from the blade. The leaves are also spiny margined, and small teeth are also found on some of the ribs within the blade. This Cuban species is well adapted to seasonally dry, warm tropical areas, though its slow rate of growth keeps it uncommon. 'Young' specimens (without much trunk development) are supremely distinctive looking. Similar species: C. rigida (jata palm), also from Cuba, is very similar to the hospita palm, but bears only green leaves.