Everglades Palm / Paurotis Palm

Scientific Name: Acoelorrhaphe wrightii

Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade. It performs best in bright, sunny locations but can tolerate some light shade.

Height: Typically 15–30 ft. tall in Florida landscapes, with a clumping spread of about 10–20 ft. over time.

Growth Habit: Moderate-growing, clumping fan palm with multiple slender trunks and bright green fan-shaped fronds. It forms a natural, tropical-looking cluster that becomes fuller with age.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 9b–11; moderately cold hardy and can tolerate brief dips into the upper 20s once established; moderately drought tolerant once established but naturally prefers moist soil; moderate to high salt tolerance, making it useful in many coastal and wetland-style Florida landscapes.

Maintenance Info: Low to moderate maintenance. Remove dead fronds and thin older trunks as needed to keep the clump clean and controlled. It can handle moist or wet soils better than many palms, but still benefits from good care during establishment. The leaf stems can have small sharp teeth, so avoid placing it too close to narrow walkways or areas where people may brush against it.

Best Uses in the Landscape: Excellent for native Florida landscapes, wet areas, pond edges, privacy screening, tropical clumps, wildlife gardens, coastal landscapes, and naturalized planting beds. It works well where a fuller, multi-trunk palm is desired instead of a single-trunk specimen.

Plant Info: Everglades Palm is native to South Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of Central America. In Florida, it is naturally associated with wetland areas, including the Everglades, which gives it its common name. It produces clusters of small white flowers followed by dark fruits that can attract wildlife. Its clumping form gives landscapes a natural tropical look and makes it a great choice for customers wanting a Florida-native palm with strong landscape character.